Iberian bitter

An annual plant that is naked or covered with hairs. The stems are erect, 10-40 cm tall, ribbed, pubescent along the ribs with hairs deflected back, almost bare at the top. Leaves are alternate, elongated wedge-shaped, obtuse; the base ones — tapering into a tall petiole, the upper ones — sessile, with a stem-embracing initial position, in front — with 2-4 deflected blunt teeth, sometimes almost entire. Flowers are 4-petalled, arranged in umbellate paniculate inflorescences; the petals are snow-white or pale purple, unequal (the outer petals are significantly taller than the others). The fruit is a rounded pod, shortened on the sides. Blooms in early June — July.

In the wild, it can be seen in Southern and Central Europe, like a wild plant in the Caucasus; in Ukraine — in the Black Sea region and Crimea. Grown in gardens as a decorative crop.

For medical purposes, the above-ground component of the plant and seeds are used; the grass contains flavonoids (quercetin, 3-gluco-7-rhamnoside of quercetin, kaempferol, 7-rhamnoside of kaempferol, 3-arabino-7-rhamnoside of kaempferol, monoglycosides, biosides, diglycosides of kaempferol and quercetin), in the seeds — alkaloids, thioglycoside glucoiberine and other combinations.

The above-ground part of the plant is harvested during the flowering period.

Preparations from Iberian seeds have a cardiac effect; in large doses they can cause systolic cardiac arrest. In the past, Iberian tincture was used for heart diseases, such as angina. It is planned that the Iberian has the opportunity to become an analogue of the spring adonis. Preparations from Iberian seeds exhibit bacteriostatic and cytotoxic behavior, but are not used often due to their high toxicity. In homeopathy, Iberian grains are used as a heart remedy (and for sore throats). In foreign folk medicine, Iberian grains and herbs are used to stimulate the secretion of gastric juice and bile. First of all (especially for diseases of the liver and gall bladder), alcoholic extracts of Iberian can be used in combination with other medicinal plants, such as angelica, caraway, lemon balm, peppermint, chamomile, licorice, and celandine.

Contraindications:

This plant contains potent substances. Be careful when using it.