Tannins witch hazel

Witch hazel is a shrub, normally attaining a height of 5 to 15 feet, native to the northeastern United States. It has oval leaves and yellow flowers, the latter appearing in October and November, after the leaves have fallen. An early analysis of the air-dried bark of this shrub indicated the presence of 6.75 % of tannins.16 In a subsequent investigation of the bark of witch hazel, Griittner18 found that from these tannins could be isolated a crystal-... 

Witch hazel is a rich source of tannins, which tighten skin proteins to provide increased resistance to inflammation, assist the healing of broken skin, and help repair damaged blood vessels. Witch hazel is useful for a variety of skin conditions, as well as for varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and bruises. 

TANNINS The tannin 7 -hamamelitannin in the leaves and bark of witch hazel, Hamame-lis vir iniana (L.), family Hamamelidaceae, has a mild antiseptic and astringent effect used for local treatment of haemorrhoids. 

Witch hazel water is a steam distillate and does not contain tannins (Leung and Foster 1996). 

Tourifio, S., D. Lizarraga, A. Carreras, et aL 2008. Highly gaUoylated tannin fractions from witch hazel Harrutmelis virginiana) bark Electron transfer capacity, in vitro antioxidant activity, and effects on skin-related cells. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 21(3) 696-704. 

C20H20O14 484.37 Tannin from witch hazel Hamamelis virginiana. Also in Quercus rubra and Castanea sativa (sweet chestnut). Prisms or needles + IfeHjO (H2O). 

Witch hazel leaf contains 8—10% tannin that is composed of hamamelitannin or digally-hamamelose, gaUotannins, and/or proantho-cyanidins (list and horhammer). Other constituents present include free gallic acid, free hamamelose, saponins, choline, resins, flavonoids [quercetin, kaempferol, astragaUn (kaempferol-3-glucoside), quercitrin, afzehn. 

Witch hazel water contains a trace of volatile oil consisting of eugenol, carvacrol, and probably similar compounds as the volatile oils of leaf and bark. As it is a steam distillate, it does not contain tannins. 

Witch hazel leaf, witch hazel bark, and witch hazel water have aU been reported to have astringent and hemostatic properties. These properties can be attributed to the tannins contained in the leaves and bark, but it is not known what is responsible for these activities in hamamelis water (list and horhammer martindale). On the other hand, results from two comparative trials utilizing hamamelis distillate creams showed that these preparations were not as effective as a low-dose hydrocortisone cream in the treatment of atopic eczema and UV-induced... 

In recent years branched-chain sugars of comparatively rare occurrence have been isolated from natural sources as examples, apiose from the parsley plant and the leaves and fibres of Posidonia australis (p. 59), hamamelose from the tannin of witch hazel bark, and deoxy branched... 

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