Butcher’s broom

Butcher s Broom Ruscus aculeatus) Capsicum Capsicum frutescens)... 

Butcher s Broom (Ruscus aeuleatus) Uses Rx of circulatory disorders such as PVD, varicose veins, leg edema hemorrhoids diuretic laxative inflammation arthritis Action Vasoconstriction d/t direct activation of the a-receptors of the smooth-muscle cells in vascular walls Available forms Raw ext 7—11 mg once/d, PO tea 1 tsp in 1 cup water topical oint apply PRN Notes E GI upset, N/V Interactions T Effects OF anticoagulants, MAOIs X effects OF antih5 pCTten-sives EMS Hypertensive crisis may occur if administered w/MAOIs T effects OF anticoap ulants... 

Caution [C, ] CrCl <30 Contra Component sensitivity, asthma, severe COPD, sinus bradycardia Disp Soln SE Irritation, bitter taste, superficial keratitis, ocular allergic Rxn EMS Drug is absorbed systemically OD May cause electrolyte disturbances (K), acidosis and bradycardia monitor ECG Doxazosin (Cardura, Cardura XL) [Antihypertensive/Alpha Blocker] Uses HTN symptomatic BPH Action < [-Adrenergic blocker relaxes bladder neck smooth muscle Dose HTN Initial 1 mg/d PO may be T to 16 mg/d PO BPH Initial 1 mg/d PO, may T to 8 mg/d XR 2-8mg qAM Caution [B, ] Use w/ PDE5 inhibitor (eg, sildenafil) can cause 1 BP Contra Component sensitivity Disp Tabs SE Dizziness, HA, drowsiness, sexual dysfxn, doses >4 mg T postural BP risk Interactions T Effects W/ nitrates, antihypertensives, EtOH i effects W/ NSAEDs, butcher s broom -t effects OF clonidine EMS Concurrent EtOH use can T drowsiness syncope may occur w/in 90 min of initial dose OD May cause profound hypotension place pt in supine position, give IV fluids, use pressors if needed... 

Liliaceae, four species are included under their Latin names and major common names—Sassafras albidum (sassafras). Allium sativum (garlic), Colchicum autum-nale (autumn crocus), and Ruscus aculeatus (butcher s broom). 

Ruscus aculeatus (butcher s broom) Veratrum species (hellebore) Strychnos nux-vomica (nux vomica) Lycopodium serratum (clubmoss)... 

Serenoa repens (saw paimetto) Arecaceae (paim) Butcher s broom Ruscus aculeatus... 

Ruscus aculeatus (butcher s broom, knee holy, knee holly, knee holm, Jew s myrtle, sweet broom, pettigree) has been used topically for vasoconstrictor treatment of varicose veins and hemorrhoids (15), and for chronic venous insufficiency, both alone (16,17) and in the combination known as Cyclo 3 fort, marketed in France, which contains an extract of R. aculeatus 150 mg, hesperi-din methyl chalcone 150 mg, ascorbic acid 100 mg, and metesculetol. 

Vanscheidt W, lost V, Wolna P, Lucker PW, Muller A, Theurer C, Patz B, Grutzner KL Efficacy and safety of a Butcher s broom preparation Ruscus aculeatus L. extract) compared to placebo in patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency. Arzneimittehorschung 2002 52(4) 243-50. 

A 66-year-old taking acenocoumarol, levothyroxine and prazepam had an increase in her INR after massaging a proprietary topical cream Cyclo 3) containing melilot Melilotus officinalis sweet clover) and butcher s broom Ruscus aculeatus) on her legs three times daily. On the first occasion her INR rose from about 2 to 5.8 after 7 days of use, and on a later occasion it rose to 4.6 after 10 days of use. ... 

A review of the literature on butcher s broom indicated that no side effects or other undesirable effects are expected (ESCOP 2003). 

Contact allergy to butcher s broom and extracts of butcher s broom has been reported and confirmed by patch testing (Breuil et al. 1989 Elbadir et al. 1998 Landa et al. 1990 Ramirez-Hernandez et al. 2006). 

Information on the safety of butcher s broom during pregnancy is limited. A small human study indicated that suppositories containing ruscogenin were well tolerated, with no adverse effects on pregnancy or on fetal or maternal health (Anger and Neietsch 1981). 

No information on the safety of butcher s broom during lactation was identified in the scientific or traditional literature. While this review did not identify any concerns for use while nursing, safety has not been conclusively established. 

In a human COX inhibitor screening assay, a methanol extract of butcher s broom exhibited COX-1 inhibition at 2.09 mg/ml (IC50) and COX-2 inhibition at 6.83 mg/ml (IC50) (Seaver and Smith 2004). 

No information on the safety of butcher s broom during lactation was identified. 

The LD50 of orally administered butcher s broom fluid extract in mice is 4.6 g/kg, and in rats could not be determined at doses up to 4.6 g/kg (Seidenberger et al. 1974). The LD50 of ruscogenins (combined ruscogenin and neorusco-genin) orally administered to mice and rats could not be determined at doses up to 3 g/kg (Capra 1972). 

The oral LD50 of a fluid extract of butcher s broom rhizome is 2.2 ml/kg in rats and 29.21 ml/kg in mice. After intraperitoneal administration, the toxicity is 10- to 20-fold higher. An extract of the root was reportedly more toxic than that of the rhizome (Boucard et al. 1967). 

An ethanol extract of butcher s broom intravenously administered to dogs was fatal at doses from 830 to 1800 mg/kg. In guinea pigs intraperitoneally administered the same extract, no toxic signs were observed at doses up to 1.5 g/kg, whereas doses over 2 g/kg were fatal (Caujolle et al. 1953 Moscarella 1953). 

In rabbits orally administered 2 or 5 g/kg of a butcher s broom extract daily for 26 weeks, no changes in body weight or blood count were observed (Roux 1969). 

Chapter 5 - Butcher s brooms (Ruscus aculeatus) of Southern Europe origin have been used in their treatments and improvements for circulatory diseases of the lombs, hermorroids and the inflammatory symptoms of anorectal mucosa in their folkrore medicines. Based on these folkrore treatments, Chapter 6 mainly consists of three elements such as Section 1 Introduction, Section 2 Facts of Incompetence Improvement by Ruscus aculeatus of improvements of venous smooth muscle by the extracts of Ruscus aculeatus, dimetic effects by the extracts of Ruscus aculeatus, and venotonic effects by the extracts of Ruscus aculeatus, and Section 3 Phytochemicals and Their Functionality of Ruscus aculeatus of phytosterols, steroidal saponins, flavonoids, fatty acid, and miscellaneous components. Therefore, Chapter 6 describes their phytochemicals in Ruscus aculeatus and their evidences of treatments based on in vivo, in vitro and wider epidemiological evidences. 

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