Dr.Dünner plant lexicon

Information about the effects of plants

Our plant encyclopedia

Name Elder
Scientific name Sambucus nigra L.
Botanical family Caprifoliaceae
Parts of the plant used Flowers and berries
Harvest time Flowers: June to July
Berries: September to October
Habitat Forest, field and path edges with nutrient-rich soils
Ingredients Flowers: Up to 3.5% flavonoids, as glycosides of quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, as well as tannins, sterols and essential oil with more than 63 components.
Berries: High in anthocyanins, sambucyanin (a red pigment that improves cellular respiration), vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, and minerals (potassium, phosphorus, calcium). Raw, the berries are a stomach irritant due to their sambunigrin content, which is neutralized by cooking.

Name Nasturtium
Scientific name Tropaeolum majus L.
Botanical family Tropaeolaceae
Parts of the plant used Herb
Harvest time In the flowering period, which lasts from May to autumn
Habitat Loves sunny meadows, wasteland, fields and roadsides
Ingredients  Mustard oil glycosides (glucosinolates), from which the active benzyl mustard oil is produced through enzymatic cleavage, 100 g fresh plant contains up to 320 mg vitamin C. Also contains carotenoids.

Name Linden
Scientific name Tilia spec.
Botanical family Caprifoliaceae
Parts of the plant used Flowers with the bract
Harvest time Flowers of the large-leaved lime from late May to early July; flowers of the small-leaved lime in August
Habitat Mixed forests or specifically in prominent and exposed areas
Ingredients Essential oil, farnesol, saponins, flavonglycosides, flavonoids, tannins, tannic acid, mucilage

Name Thyme
Scientific name Thymus vulgaris L.
Botanical family Lamiaceae
Parts of the plant used The herb as well as the leaves and flowers stripped from the stems
Harvest time May to August; right at the beginning of the flowering period, the stem, including the flowers and leaves, is harvested and dried in the shade below 35°C.
Habitat Prefers a Mediterranean climate, colonizes open dry lawn, loves calcareous soil and sunny layers
Ingredients Essential oil containing mainly thymol and carvacrol with P-cymene, linalool and other monoterpene flavonoids as well as antioxidant biphenyls

Name Yellow gentian
Scientific name Gentiana Lutea L.
Botanical family Gentianaceae
Parts of the plant used Root
Harvest time In spring or autumn, plants must be at least 10 years old
Habitat In mountain meadows at an altitude of 750 to 2500 meters
Ingredients Iroidglycosides (bitter substances) such as amarogenic, Gentiopicroside, Swertiamarin as well as mono and oligosaccharides, also pectins, but no starch, as well as yellow-coloring xanthonderivates and traces of essential oil

Name Dandelion
Scientific name Taraxacum officinale
Botanical family Asteraceae
Parts of the plant used Whole plant or just the herb, leaves-, or flowers
Harvest time Whole plant, including the root, when in flower from May to October; root in spring (April to May) before flowers form, or in autumn (September to October) after they have faded
Habitat Meadows, roadsides and wasteland; up to an altitude of 2800 meters
Ingredients Bitter sesquiterpene lactones, such as taraxacin and triterpenes; also phytosterols and a high inulin and potassium content

Name Artichoke
Scientific name Cynara cardunculus
Botanical family Asteraceae
Parts of the plant used The fleshy outer leaves and heart are eaten as vegetables. The leaves are used for medical purposes, especially indigestion, since the ingredients stimulate bile production. There are also studies that show a cholesterol-lowering effect.
Harvest time The flower bud as a vegetable in June and July just before it opens out; the leaves of the rosette after harvesting the flower bud.
Habitat Mediterranean, South America and California.
Ingredients Bitter substances, such as the Sesquiterpenlacton Cynaropicrin, can only be found in the leaves; Further flavonoids such as luteolin and cynaroside as well as phenol carboxylic acids such as cynarin and chlorogenic acid

Name Devil's claw
Scientific name Harpagophytum procumbens DC. ex Meisn.
Botanical family Pedaliaceae
Parts of the plant used Roots and the bulbous secondary roots. The harpagosides contained in the roots are often used in medicines because of their anti-inflammatory effect and their ability to reduce swelling and relieve pain. Often also for osteoarthritis, since the enzymes that break down protein are inhibited, thereby protecting articular cartilage. Numerous studies show the effectiveness of this medicinal plant.
Harvest time varies
Habitat Savanna and grassy vegetation, red, sandy soils or in alluvial areas
Ingredients Iridoid glycosides, principally harpagoside, flavonoids such as kaempferoel and luteolin, as well as unsaturated fatty acids, cinnamic acids and chlorogenic acid

Name Frankincense
Scientific name Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr.
Botanical family Burseraceae
Parts of the plant used Resin
Harvest time Obtained by cutting into the bark
Habitat Dry areas and barren landscapes up to an altitude of 1200 meters
Ingredients 50-70 % resin with beta-boswellic acid as the main component, also mucilage and essential oil

Name Peppermint
Scientific name Mentha X piperita L.
Botanical family Lamiaceae
Parts of the plant used Leaves and the pure, essential peppermint oil
Harvest time March to May before it flowers
Habitat Moist, nutrient -containing soils; half -shaded, slightly sunny locations
Ingredients Essential oil with the main components menthol and menthon

Name Rhodiola
Scientific name Rhodiola rosea L.
Botanical family Crassulaceae
Parts of the plant used Root and rootstock (root and rhizome)
Harvest time Spring and autumn
Habitat Moist soils in the mountain regions of Eurasia and North America up to an altitude of 2300 meters.
Ingredients Phenylpropanoids: rosavine, rosin and pink as well as various flavonoids, essential oils and organic acids

Name Ashwagandha, winter cherry
Scientific name Withania somnifera L.
Botanical family Solanaceae
Parts of the plant used Root
Harvest time Winter
Habitat Preferes warm, dry climates
Ingredients Alkaloids, such as somniferine and phytosterols as well as steroidal lactones and saponins, also estrogenic components, such as withanolides and withaferin.

Name St. John's wort
Scientific name Hypericum perforatum L.
Botanical family Hypericaceae
Parts of the plant used Both the flowering herb and the flowers on their own. St. John's wort is always associated with sunshine and - figuratively - with happiness. The power of St. John's wort can light up the dark and slightly depressing times of the year, so it is not surprising that both Paracelsus and modern conventional medicine recommend St. John's wort to boost mood.
Harvest time End of June to September
Habitat Embankments, path edges, screes
Ingredients Mainly hypericin- and hyperforin as well as flavonoids and bitter substances

Name Milk thistle
Scientific name Carduus marianus, Silybum marianum
Botanical family Asteraceae
Parts of the plant used The milk thistle seeds are usually used. Their main active ingredient, silimarin or silibinin, has a marked protective effect on the liver and is even used successfully to treat liver poisoning. Numerous scientific studies have produced convincing evidence of the effectiveness and excellent tolerability of this medicinal plant.
Harvest time August and September
Habitat Roadsides and fallow land
Ingredients Mainly silibinin, also known as silybin, the most pharmacologically active substance in the active ingredient complex