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Hydrastis
canadensis L.
Standardized Common
Name: Goldenseal
Other Common Names: Indian Paint, Eye
Balm, Eye Root, Ground Raspberry, Jaundice Root, Orange Root, Wild Curcuma,
Wild Turmeric, Yellow Puccoon, Yellow Root
Family: Ranunculaceae or Hydrastidaceae
Taxonomy: Hydrastis
canadensis is the only species in its genus, which is distinct enough that
it is often placed in a family of its own. It is endemic to woodlands of
eastern and central North America.
Description: Rhizomatous
perennial herb. Rhizome horizontal, to 6 cm long, (2–)6–10(–13) mm in diameter,
knotted, sometimes branching, yellow; upper surface with numerous circular stem
scars, lower surface with numerous slender roots to 30 cm long. Leaves
petiolate, arising singly from rhizome, or cauline with 2 leaves per flowering
stem; blade suborbicular, palmately lobed, 6–25 cm broad, reaching full size
after flowering; lobes (3–)5–7(–9), ovate, with acute apices; base cordate;
margins biserrate. Flower solitary, white, 1–2 cm in diameter; sepals 3 (2–4),
rapidly falling off at time of flowering, 3.5–7 mm long; petals absent; stamens
numerous, white, showy, 4–8 mm long; gynoecium of 5–20 separate carpels. Fruit
an aggregate of berrylike drupes, bright red at maturity, 5–8 mm long.
Parts
in Commerce:
Rhizome with roots
Identification:
- Rhizome to 6 cm
long; diameter 2–8 mm when dried
- Simple or
occasionally branching
- Surface knotted,
rough, with closely spaced rings and often with longitudinal wrinkles when
dried
- Cup-shaped stem
scars closely spaced on upper part
- Lower part with
many slender roots; roots long, thin, flexible in fresh plant, but brittle
and easily broken off when dried
- Rhizome and
roots yellow in color, at least internally; surface turns brown upon
drying
- Fracture
brittle, even; freshly fractured surface may appear mealy or waxy
- Cross-section of
rhizome shows several rows of cork cells; cortex with distinct cambial
region; ring of narrow radiating xylem bundles separated by wide rays;
conspicuous pith
- Numerous small
starch grains present in rhizome parenchyma
- Cross-section of
root shows thick cortex, small vascular cylinder with 4-wedged wood
- Odor
characteristic, unpleasant
- Taste bitter,
irritating, inducing salivation
Adulterants: Literature indicates
that H. canadensis could be adulterated with Berberis/Mahonia
species, Coptis groenlandica L., C. trifolia (L.) Salisb., or Xanthorhiza
simplicissima Marshall, all of which share a yellowish color due to the
presence of berberine, or other species with a similar color. Those that
contain berberine will taste bitter. Whole material of H. canadensis is
easily distinguished by size, shape and color of the rhizome or root. Cut
material of H. canadensis may be recognized by the diameter (<1 cm),
color (parenchyma bright yellow, not brownish or reddish), and gross anatomy
(surface rough, irregular, with remains of stem scars; pith large; wood with
wide parenchyma rays separating narrow xylem rays). These features are unlike
those of other berberine-containing species. Microscopic anatomy has also been
found useful: thick-walled fibers and sclereids are present in possible
adulterants, but not in Hydrastis.
References:
Ford BA. Hydrastis. In: Flora of North
America Editorial Committee (eds.), Flora of North America vol. 3. New
York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1997:87–88.
Lloyd JU, Lloyd CG. Drugs and Medicines of North
America, vol. 1. Cincinnati, OH: Robert Clarke & Co.; 1884–85.
[Reprinted in Bull Lloyd Lib 29, 1930.]
Upton R, ed. Goldenseal Root. Hydrastis
canadensis. Standards of Analysis, Quality Control, and Therapeutics.
Santa Cruz, CA: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia; 2001.
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