NIS - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

WHO monographs on medicinal plants commonly used in the Newly Independent States (NIS)
Major chemical constituents
The characteristic constituents are sesquiterpenes, including the bitter
eudesmanolides tetrahydroridentin B and taraxacolide β-d-glucopyranoside;
and the germacranolides, taraxinic acid β-d-glucopyranoside and 11,13-dihydrotaraxic
acid β-d-glucopyranoside. Also present are the p-hydroxyphenylacetic
acid derivative, taraxacoside; the triterpenes, taraxasterol,
ψ-taraxasterol and taraxerol; and inulin (2–40%) (4, 10, 11). Representative
structures are presented below.
taraxasterol
H
H 3 C
H
ψ-taraxasterol
CH 2 CH 3
O
H
H 3 C
H
CH 3 CH 3 H CH 3
H
H CH 3
HO
H
H 3 C CH 3
H
HO
H
H 3 C CH 3
CH 3 CH 3 H CH 3
H CH 3
taraxacolide β-D-glucoside
O
H CH 3 O
CH 3
O
H
H H H
H CH 3
O
Glc
taraxinic acid β-D-glucosyl ester
H
O
O
H 3 C
H
CH
Glc
2
O O
tetrahydroridentin B
H
HO
CH 3
O
CH 3
H
H
H H H
H CH 3 OH
taraxacoside
HO
376
O
HO
O
OH
O O
OH
Medicinal uses
Uses supported by clinical data
No information available.
O
O
Glc =
HO
HO
OH
O
OH
β-D-glucopyranosyl
Uses described in pharmacopoeias and well established documents
To stimulate diuresis (2, 5), increase bile flow and stimulate appetite, and
for treatment of dyspepsia (2).
Uses described in traditional medicine
As a galactagogue, laxative and tonic. Treatment of boils and sores, diabetes,
fever, inflammation of the eye, insomnia, sore throat, lung abscess,
jaundice, rheumatism and urinary tract infections (10).