A branchy, deciduous, up to 5 m tall shrub of the legume family. The leaves are odd-pinnate, with 3-6 pairs of oblong or oval leaflets. The flowers are bisexual, irregular, bright yellow, up to 2 cm long, in axillary 3-6-flowered panicles. The fruit is a multi-seeded, puffy, membranous bean, 5-8 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. Blooms in May – August.
Spread. Comes from the Mediterranean. In Ukraine, mainly in the southern regions, the bladderwort is grown as an ornamental plant. Goes wild easily.
Raw. Leaves (Folium Coluteae), which are harvested throughout the growing season, are used to make medicines. They dry it under a tent, spreading it in a thin layer and stirring it from time to time. 25% of dry raw material is obtained.
The plant is unofficial .
Chemical composition . The leaves of the bladderwort contain tannins and bitter substances, formic acid, traces of essential oil, ascorbic acid and mineral salts.
Pharmacological properties and use . Bellflower has long been used as a substitute for cassia. Its products have laxative properties, but are inferior in potency to cassia products. The strength of the laxative effect depends on the dose: small doses lead to mild relaxation, large doses have a laxative effect. The plant also has a slight diuretic and choleretic effect. In folk medicine, bladderwort was also used as a blood purifier. The disadvantage of bladder products is their unpleasant taste and smell. To get rid of this, honey or bare licorice roots are added to the products of the bladder, which not only correct the taste of the medicine, but also enhance the laxative effect. Experimental and clinical tests of products made from the leaves of the bladderwort conducted in the USSR proved the absence of toxic phenomena.
Medicinal forms and use. Internally – infusion of leaves (20-50 g of raw material per 1 liter of boiling water, infuse for 5 minutes) one glass at a time before going to bed as a laxative or laxative (adjust the dose);
a complex infusion (10 g of leaves of the bladderwort and 15 g of ground coffee are infused for 15 minutes in 150 ml of boiling water, filtered and 15 g of bitter salt and 30 g of raspberry syrup are added) for patients with a weak heart as a laxative and choleretic agent.