(Trachomitum cannabinum); hemp kendir
Perennial herbaceous rhizomatous plant of the periwinkle family. Stems are straight, green or cherry-red, 60-100 cm tall. The leaves are opposite, sometimes alternate, short-petiolate, from lanceolate to elongated ovate, entire. The flowers are white or pink, in panicles. The fruit is a leaf. Blooms in June – August.
Spread. Comes from North America. It is cultivated in the territory of the former USSR in the Moscow region.
Raw. Rhizomes with roots are used. Harvested in autumn.
The plant is unofficial .
Chemical composition . The roots of Kendir hemp contain cardiac glycosides (cymarin, apocanoside, cynocanoside, K-strophanthin-B, fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, linoleic, oleic), triterpene compounds, tannin, rubber and traces of alkaloids).
Pharmacological properties and use . In folk medicine, the roots of the hemp plant in the form of a decoction have long been used as a diuretic for kidney diseases, heart diseases and dropsy. In scientific medicine, hemp kendir was used as a cardiotonic agent. The pharmaceutical industry produced cymarin and kendoside products. The release of these drugs has been discontinued due to the availability of more effective means with a similar effect.