Re: Drosera (pharmaceutical)

Gilles LARDY (lardyg7@cti.ecp.fr)
Wed, 13 Dec 1995 12:04:24 +0100

> I am studying Marcel Lecoufle book on Carnivorous Plants Care and
>Cultivation. On page seven he mentions that Drosera were used by the
>pharmaceutical industry to provide an extract used medicinally as an
>expectorant. Sarrencenia, I hear are also are used to produce some type of
>medicine. Could some one point the way to more information on this subject?
=20
You may find some information in two french books.
"Les plantes carnivores de France" Baffray, Brice, Danton 1992
"Les plantes carnivores : des pi=E8ges au d=E9tour de l'image" Baffray,=
Brice,
Danton 1985

It is writen that drosera was used against tuberculosis, and all lung
diseases, even syphilis. It is still used in homeopathy as a tincture
against cough, but I don't know where they get the plants from...
Sarracenia species, and especially S. purpurea where largely used in the
past century. The doctors used to extract from its rhizome an alkaloid,
sarracenin, some tannins and a colouring, sarracenic acid (yellow).
Sarracenia tincture was used by the indians against pox, and pain.
But all of these pharmaceutical properties were infered from the aspect of
the plant, so I don't know if you can really rely them.

I have further information on genus Pinguicula and Utricularia, which are
largely used in France and Europe by people, so let me know if you need=
them...=20
*****************************
Gilles LARDY
E_mail : lardyg7@cti.ecp.fr