The Herbal Power of Orchids

Orchids are some of the nature most gorgeous creation. The authors try to reveal the treasures and secrets of orchids. The book provides the currently available information on ethnomedicine, ethnobotany and traditional knowledge. It identifies its phytochemical and pharmacological important compounds and discusses the results of experimental, preclinical and clinical studies with extracts of orchid species. The authors introduce the reader into the chemistry of plant toxins and the major alkaloids synthesized by the bio chemistry of orchids. TCM uses many orchids as ingredient in their herbal formulation. They transfer the indication and results into the nomenclature and terminology of the western medicine in a way, easy to read and to understand. The authors do not intent to write a scientific book for the scientist, but to meet the challenge of a reader interested in herbal orchids who would like to view this subject from different angles eager to discover the secrets of orchids and learn how difficult it is to unlock their treasures. We compiled the available up-to-date knowledge and the opinion of different authors in this field to present a comprehensive over all view of the herbal use of orchids.



Dr. Alexander Friesen and Bruno Friesen are twin brothers born 1949 in Germany. Alexander Friesen studied medicine while Bruno studied chemical engineering and business/administration. Both unites a strong interest in botany especially tropical orchid's species which created the unique possibility to unite science with the art of painting.



06Foreword

08 Introduction

12 Orchids, symbols of aphrodisiac and fertility

18 Orchids in ethnobotany and ethnomedicine

28 Herbal aspect in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

35 Herbal aspect in Indian and Ayurvedic medicine

43 Salep

64 Introduction to the chemistry of bioactive alkaloids in orchids

100Genus Dendrobium and their bioactive ingredients

140Round up of medical use of Dendrobium in Shih Hu

146Other herbal Dendrobium species

161Other genera of herbal orchids

219Orchids with liver protective activities

230Neuroprotective orchids

257Orchids with antiviral activities

262Orchids with painkilling activities

263Orchids with antiaging activities

269Orchids and diabetes mellitus

271Orchids with anti-inflammatory activities

273Orchids with antimicrobial activities

278Orchids with antiallergic activities

279Orchids with immunological activities

280Orchids with antiplatelet aggregation

281Orchids with antitumour activity

291Orchids with aphrodisiac and fertility activities

294Herbicidal orchids

296Pyrrolizidine containing orchids

302Indolizidine containing orchids

317Conclusion

319Bibliography