Elecampane high - oman high (growing and cultivation)

Name: Elecampane high – oman high (growing and cultivation)

Elecampane ( high Oman) Inula helenium L.

Synonyms: elecampane officinalis, ninesil, elecampane root, elecampane, wild sunflower, yellow button, doubts (Ukrainian divosil, devyasil wild).

Description. Perennial tall herbaceous, wild plant from the Asteraceae family (Compositae). The rhizome is many-headed, with numerous, thick, longish roots extending from it. Outside, the roots are yellowish-brown, inside are yellow-white. The stem is straight, furrowed, to the top felt (very pubescent), branched, up to 2 m high. The leaves are alternate, large, soft-gray felt below, gradually decreasing upwards, hard-haired; basal leaves oblong-elliptical, narrowed into a petiole; stalk cordate-ovate stalk-bearing. The flowers are golden yellow, forming basket inflorescences. Extreme flowers reed, median tubular with a tuft. Blooms in July-September; fruits ripen in August October. The fruit is an oblong, tetrahedral, brown or brown achene with a tuft. Weight of 1000 seeds 11.5 g.

Medicinal raw materials: roots with rhizomes.

Habitat. It grows mainly along the banks of rivers and streams, also along damp ditches and between shrubs. In large numbers, we had to meet elecampane along the banks of mountain rivers and streams in the vicinity of the high-mountain lake Sevan (Armenian SSR).

Spreading. In the wild, it is found throughout the European part of the USSR, in the Caucasus, Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Its thickets are especially large in the North Caucasus, where mass preparations are made. In more northern regions, it grows mainly as a wild plant.

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Composition of active substances. The roots and rhizomes of elecampane contain essential oil (up to 3%), which is a crystalline oily mass. The crystalline part of the oil (the so-called gelin) is a mixture of the sesquiterpene lactones alantolactone, isoalantolactone, dihydroalanto-lactone and allantonic acid.

Application. Even in ancient times, elecampane was widely cultivated by the Romans and Greeks. In Ukraine, and now the rural population grows it within the huts, in front gardens, preparing it as a home remedy. Decoctions and infusions from the roots of elecampane are used as an expectorant, diuretic and tonic. As a powerful expectorant, elecampane is used in the treatment of catarrh of the upper respiratory tract with increased secretion (for example, with influenza). It also gives good results in the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases (bronchitis, tracheids). It is also recommended for pulmonary tuberculosis and catarrhal bronchitis with a lot of mucus. Externally, elecampane products are used for skin diseases (eczema, itching, scabies). For this, an ointment is prepared: a mixture of finely chopped rhizomes with unsalted lard, boiled for 15 minutes and filtered while still hot.

In folk medicine, a decoction of the roots of elecampane and burdock is used orally for rheumatism, influenza (Popov, 1969).

In the United States and some other countries, elecampane roots are used for asthma, coughs, and also for making puddings, sweets, and flavoring liquors (Belyaeva, 1946).

Having a high content of inulin (up to 4045%), elecampane is a rich and valuable raw material for the confectionery and canning industries. In addition, elecampane serves as a material for obtaining blue paint.

Collection. The roots are dug up in spring and autumn. The roots dug out with shovels are shaken off the ground, cleaned from the aerial part and washed in water.

Drying. To make the roots dry faster, they are cut across, and the thick ones are also lengthwise. After preliminary drying in the open air, the rhizomes are dried in attics under an iron roof or in well-ventilated rooms, laying them out in a thin layer on a clean bedding.

Pack. Packed in bales and bales of 5075 kg.

Storage. Raw materials should be stored in well-ventilated areas on racks or stocks.

quality requirements. Ready-to-sell raw materials should consist of pieces of rhizomes and roots 220 cm long, 13 cm thick, gray-brown on the outside and yellow at the break, with a peculiar aroma and a bitter-spicy burning taste.

In accordance with OST NKVT 7905/368 allowed: moisture 13%; 5 brown rhizomes and roots at a break; other parts of the plant, stem bases, flabby roots, rhizomes 5%; broken pieces of roots with a length of at least 2 cm 5%; organic impurities 0.5; mineral 1.0%.