Euphrasia stricta, the drug eyebright, is an annual forb in the genus Euphrasia.[1]

Euphrasia stricta
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Orobanchaceae
Genus: Euphrasia
Species:
E. stricta
Binomial name
Euphrasia stricta
J.P.Wolff ex J.F.Lehm.
Synonyms

Bartsia stricta (Kunth) Benth

It has been introduced in northeastern North America, where it is found in New England (except Connecticut), New York, Pennsylvania, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Quebec, the upper peninsula of Michigan, northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.[2] It is also found in Central Europe and Pyrenees [3]

The preferred growing location is on moist, calcareous sands, such as those on some moors and dunes. The plant is a hemiparasite and can steal water and salts from grasses.

Uses

edit

Euphrasia stricta is used in herbal medicine to treat inflammatory eye conditions, most notably allergic conjunctivitis.[4] The German Commission E did not consider there to be sufficient evidence to prove eyebright is useful for any condition.[5] Human clinical trials are lacking to support traditional claims, though absence of evidence is not proof of inefficacy.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium". University of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  2. ^ "USDA PLANTS Database". Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Banc de dades de biodiversitat de Catalunya".
  4. ^ Weiss, Rudolf (1985). Herbal Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweden: Ab Arcanum. p. 339. ISBN 9780906584194.
  5. ^ Blumenthal, M; Busse, W; Goldberg, A, eds. (1998). The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council. pp. 329–330. ISBN 978-0965555500.