Taxonomic Class

Juglandaceae

Common Trade Names

None known.

Common Forms

Available as a decoction, an extract, and a tincture and used externally as a bath additive and a compress.

Source

The leaves of the deciduous tree (Juglans regia), the bark, the hull of the nut, and the nut itself have been used for various preparations.

Chemical Components

The leaves contain about 10% tannins of the ellagitannin type; naphthalene derivatives, especially the monoglucosides of juglone (=5- hydroxy-1,4-naphtholquinone) and hydrojuglone; more than 3% flavonoids (such as quercetin, quercitrin, hyperoside, and kaempferol derivatives); 0.8% to 1% ascorbic acid, plant acids, including gallic, caffeic, and neochlorogenic acids; and 0.001 % to 0.03% volatile oil, mainly germacrene D. The main active components are the tannins and juglone.

Actions

J. regia is mainly used externally as an astringent, based on its tannin content (10%). Juglone and the essential oils may have in vitro antifungal activity and, possibly, antitumorigenic effects in mice. The actual nut has been studied as a substitute (replacing 20% to 35% of monounsaturated fat foods) in cholesterol-lowering diets with success in further reducing total cholesterol and LDL levels in human subjects .

Reported Uses

Walnut preparations have been used externally for acne, eczema, eyelid inflammation, excessive perspiration of the hands and feet, pyodermia, tuberculosis, and various skin ulcers. It has been used internally for catarrhs of the GI tract and as an anthelmintic and a blood-purifying agent.

Dosage

Dosing is highly dependent on various factors. Because no standard production exists, dosage ranges must be viewed as relative guidelines.

External: 3 to 6 g/day; 100 g per full bath.

Extracts: 2 to 3 g P.O. once to several times a day.

Tincture: 1 to 3 ml P.O. once to several times a day.

Adverse Reactions

Hepatic: hepatotoxicity (caused by tannin content).

Other: carcinogenic effects (potential with long-term use of J. regia as an external preparation).

Interactions

None reported.

Contraindications and Precautions

Excessive oral ingestion and topical application of walnuts should be avoided in pregnant or breast-feeding patients.

Special Considerations

• Caution the patient who is at risk for heptatotoxicity about ingesting considerable quantities of walnut because the tannin content may increase the risk of hepatic injury.
• Advise the patient who is looking for a natural agent to reduce serum cholesterol levels to pursue more stringently studied and proven alternatives.
• Inform the patient that walnut preparations that contain juglone compounds can discolor the skin or mucous membranes yellowish brown.
• Caution the patient that daily topical application of walnut preparations may increase the risk of tongue cancer and leukoplakia of the lips.

Commentary

Little, if any, evidence exists other than in vitro studies to support most of the claims for the use of walnut. Larger human trials are needed to demonstrate its effectiveness in hypercholesterolemic men and Women. More research is needed before definitive recommendations can be put forward.

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Taxonomic class

Magnoliaceae

Common Trade Names

None known.

Common Forms

Available as liquid extract and powder.

Source

Indigenous to North America, magnolia’s medicinal parts are derived from the bark of the stem and root. The main active components are obtained from the bark of several magnolia species; the flower bud is also used in Chinese medicine. Drying and age cause its volatile, aromatic properties to be lost.

Chemical components

The active components found in the bark are alkaloids (for example, magnocurarine and tubocurarine) and essential oils (for example, magnolol, tetrahydromagnolol, isomagnolol, machiolol, and honokiol).

Actions

Components of magnolia bark have been studied in vitro and in animals for antimicrobial activity in the treatment of periodontal disease , for antifungal activity and as antitumorigenic promoters . The lignans isolated from the flower buds have been studied for their inhibitory effects on tumor necrosis factor-alpha production . Few, if any, data exist from human clinical trials. Magnolol, the active principle of the herb, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to reduce prostaglandin E 2 and leukotriene-B 4 levels in the pleural fluid of mice and to suppress thromboxane-B 2 formation .

Decoctions made from magnolia have been cited to cause uterine contractions.

Reported Uses

Magnolia has been claimed to be useful as an antasthmatic, an anti-inflammatory, a muscle relaxant, and a stimulant. Its use has also been suggested for appetite stimulation, digestive disorders, dysentery, flatulence, nausea, and shortness of breath.

Dosage

No standard dosing is available.

Adverse Reactions

Other: allergic reaction.

Interactions

None reported.

Contraindications and precautions

Magnolia is contraindicated in pregnancy because of empiric uterinestimulating activity (flower buds).

Special considerations

Although primary allergy to magnolia is seldom reported, caution the hypersensitive patient to be wary of allergic reactions to magnolia. One patient, described as having allergies to several sesquiterpene lactone­containing plants, experienced a severe case of chronic lichenfied dermatitis to Magnolia grandiflora .

Advise the patient to consult a health care provider before using herbal preparations because a treatment that has been clinically researched and proved effective may be available.

Advise the pregnant patient not to ingest magnolia.

Points of Interest

A report in an FDA bulletin suggests that a M. stephania preparation may lead to acute renal failure and, possibly, permanent renal dysfunction .

The genus Magnolia is named after Pierre Magnol, a professor of medicine and botany at Montpellier in the early 18th century.

Commentary

Although magnolia is popular in Chinese medicine, scientific information from human trials to support its pharmacologic actions does not exist. Evidence to support claims is lacking. More research is needed before definitive recommendations can be made.

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