Allium schoenoprasum

Scientific name: Allium schoenoprasum L.

Synonym: Allium sibiricum

Botanical family: AMARYLLIDACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Mexico:

cebollina

Other vernacular names

Mexico:

Cebollina

Haiti:

Siv

Geographical distribution

Native to Europe, widely cultivated throughout the world.

Botanical description

Herbaceous plant, with underground bulbous stem, up to 1 cm wide, often elongated. Linear, hollow leaves, as long as or longer than the scape. Scape more than 20 cm in length, numerous flowers in the head, pink-purple in colour.

Voucher(s)

Medina,36,CICY

asthma

toasted bulb, crushed, infusion, orally¹
bulb, crushed, decoction, orally¹

The Allium schoenoprasum bulbs are a condiment of relatively widespread human consumption.

For asthma attacks:
prepare a decoction or infusion with 2 or 3 bulbs in 4 cups (1 litre) of water For decoctions, add the previously crushed bulbs, boil for 5 minutes in a covered container; for infusions, add the boiling water to the previously crushed and toasted bulbs, cover, let stand, cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup 3 or 4 times a day.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for asthma attacks is classified in the REC category based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the toxicity studies.

If deterioration of the patient is observed or if the asthma (shortness of breath) persists for more than 2 days or the asthma attack for 1 hour, seek medical attention.

Due to the health risk of asthma, an initial medical assessment is recommended. The use of this resource must be considered complementary to medical treatment, unless contraindicated.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 3 years.

TRAMIL Work⁶
The freeze-dried aqueous extract (infusion) from roasted and crushed bulb (5 g/kg/5 days), was administered orally in Hsd:ICR mice, 5 males and 5 females. The control was carried out with deionised, distilled water (0.4 ml), with the same characteristics. The observation period was 12 days according to the OECD 423 protocol, no mortality occurred, and no signs of toxicity were evident.

TRAMIL Work⁷
The freeze-dried aqueous extract (decoction) of crushed bulb (1g/kg/day) was administered orally in Hsd:ICR mice, 5 males and 5 females, for 90 consecutive days. The control was carried with deionised, distilled water (0.4 ml) in animals with the same characteristics. The total observation period was 104 days according to OECD 407 protocol. There was no mortality or signs of toxicity during the test, and macroscopic necropsy in 30% of the animals (liver, lung, kidney and heart) revealed no alterations.

In 1976 the FDA (Sec.582.10) considered the whole plant to be a flavouring agent ⁸.

There is no information available documenting the safety of use in children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The bulb contains essential oil and sulfur compounds: alliin, isoalliin, dipropyl disulfide, methyl pentyl disulfide, cis-pentyl- hydro-disulfide, trans-pentyl-hydro-disulfide, 3,5-diethyl-1,2,4- trithiolane and alkenyl-cysteine derivatives ^2-3.

TRAMIL Work⁴
The aqueous extract (infusion) of chopped and toasted bulb, freeze-dried (20.7 g/100 ml water), in vitro (4.59 and 9.17 mg/ml) in tracheal rings of female Sprague Dawley rats, in the model with bronchodilation induced by KCl (2 moles/l) as a contracting agent, according to the Castillo and Beer protocol modified by LEBi, caused 50 ± 2.8 and 93.2 ± 6.8% relaxation respectively. The results were statistically significant and dose dependent.

TRAMIL Work⁵
The aqueous extract (decoction) of crushed bulb, freeze-dried (27.3 g/100 ml water), in vitro (4.58, 18.35 and 22.94 mg/ml) in tracheal rings of female Sprague Dawley rats, in the model with bronchodilation induced by KCl (2 moles/l) as a contracting agent, according to the Castillo and Beer protocol modified by LEBi, caused 70.6 ± 10.9, 81.9 and 12.2 ± 46.7% ± 18.8% relaxation respectively. The results were statistically significant,
but not dose dependent.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 MENDEZ M, MEDINA ML, DURAN R, 1996
Encuesta TRAMIL. Unidad de recursos naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán CICY, Mérida, México.

2 KUBEC R, SVOBODOVA M, VELISEK J, 2000
Distribution of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides in some Allium species. Identification of a new flavor precursor: s-ethylcysteine sulfoxide (ethiin). J Agr Food Chem 48(2):428433.

3 HASHIMOTO S, MIYAZAWA M, KAMEOKA H, 1983
Volatile flavour components of chive Allium schoenoprasum L. J Food Sci 48(6):18581859.

4 PAZOS L, QUIROS S, GONZALEZ S, 2004
Ensayo de actividad broncodilatadora en anillos de tráquea de rata, por infusión de bulbo picado y tostado de Allium schoenoprasum. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

5 PAZOS L, QUIROS S, GONZALEZ S, 2004
Ensayo de actividad broncodilatadora en anillos de tráquea de rata, por decocción de bulbo machacado de Allium schoenoprasum. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

6 PAZOS L, COTO T, GONZALEZ S, 2003
Toxicidad oral, aguda en ratón, del extracto acuoso (infusión) del bulbo tostado y machacado de Allium schoenoprasum. Informe TRAMIL Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

7 PAZOS L, QUIROS S, GONZALEZ S, COTO T, 2004 Toxicidad oral, subcrónica en ratón, del extracto acuoso (decocción) del bulbo ma-chacado de Allium schoenoprasum. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

8 ANON, 1976
Grass status of foods and food additives. Fed Regist 41:38644.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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Allium schoenoprasum

Vernacular names

Mexico:

Mexico:

Haiti:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

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