Drimia seaside (onion) is a herbaceous perennial bulbous plant that grows in natural conditions in the Mediterranean countries. Belongs to the asparagus family. Its species epithet maritimus translates as “marine”, since Drimia is most often found on the sea coasts.
Plant description
The onion, photo of which you can see below, does not exceed 50 cm in height. An adult plant weighs about three kilograms. A flower stem without leaves reaches a height of one meter. It is crowned by a dense large racemose inflorescence up to half a meter long with small white flowers.
The leaves are smooth, shiny, painted in a deep dark green color. They have an ovoid shape. Their length varies (depending on the areas of growth) from 30 to 80 cm, width - from 5 to 12 cm. The bulb is fleshy, pear-shaped, covered with dry red or white scales.
The fruit of the plant is a box containing 5 to 12 black or black-brown seeds ripening in late September or early October. Blooms onions in July-August, before the appearance of leaves.
Varieties
Botanists distinguish two types of plants: red and white. In white onion, the flowers are painted white with a greenish tint. Onion flakes - white or cream. In red onion, the flowers have a pink perianth, the inner scales of the bulb are also pink or purple.
For medical purposes, only internal dried white flakes are used. They are white-yellow, curved or flat pieces of different shapes, solid, horn-like, but translucent. Their length varies from 1 to 8 cm, and thickness - from 5 to 10 mm. They have a weak characteristic odor, and the taste is not determined.
Places of growth
The homeland of sea onions are the countries of the Mediterranean. The white variety is most often found in Portugal, Albania, Spain. Red onions are common in Algeria and Morocco. It prefers to grow in coastal areas, although it is also found in the mountains at an altitude of up to a kilometer above sea level. Sea onions are cultivated as an ornamental plant and for medicinal purposes. In our country, grown in the southern regions with a mild and warm climate.
The chemical composition of sea onions
About ten substances that belong to bufadienolides were found in white onion bulbs. The main one is glycoscillaren A, which makes up the sum of glycosides. This is the primary trioside, which is formed by rhamnose, aglycone scyllarenin and two glucose molecules. During hydrolysis, sillaren A bioside is first formed, then rhamnoside - proscillaridin A.
And that's not it. Also white sea onion contains:
- scyllipicrine;
- traces of essential oils;
- mucus (4-11%).
Bulbs of the red species contain monoglucoside scylliroside. This is a very toxic substance for rats; scyllaren A acts on them weaker.
Pharmacological properties
Glycosides of white sea onions are perfectly absorbed when they enter the stomach, when compared with other cardiac glycosides, they increase diuresis. This is associated not only with an improvement in cardiac activity, but also with a beneficial effect on the renal parenchyma.
Sea onions: use in medicine
White bulbs are included in the pharmacopoeias of some European countries (Great Britain, France, etc.). They are used as a diuretic and expectorant, for the production of cardiotonic medicines.
Medicines based on plants are used both in folk and traditional medicine and homeopathy. For example, sea onion powder - a tool with a powerful diuretic and laxative property, it has long been used by healers and healers to treat dropsy.
Medications
Today, the drug "Scillaren" is produced, which is a purified form of glycosides of sea onions. It is available in the form of tablets, suppositories, solution. They are taken orally, intravenous injections are prescribed for chronic and acute circulatory failure caused by mitral valve insufficiency.
In addition, the drug is prescribed for the treatment of coronary sclerosis, right ventricular hypertrophy due to pulmonary circulation disorders, with intolerance to digitalis and strophanthin glycosides by patients. Often it is combined with digitalis-based preparations, which allows you to strengthen its diuretic properties.
The therapeutic effect of the plant is due to the presence of a large number of cardiac glycosides. In their action, they are close to the glycosides of the strophanthus and digitalis. Unlike the strophanthus, the effect of onion-based preparations appears somewhat weaker and not so long. When taken orally, the drug is well tolerated by patients.
Use in traditional medicine
In traditional medicine, onions are used with caution. Tinctures on water, on essential oils, on alcohol are used as grinds. The following are some common recipes.
Infusion
Pour a glass of boiling water with two grams of dry raw materials and let it brew for eight hours. Take a composition of 5 drops three times a day for heart failure.
Tincture for radiculitis, osteochondrosis and rheumatism
One part of the onion leaves, one part of the onion should be chopped and pour 10 parts of vodka. The drug is infused in a dark place for 30 days. Rub the sore spot once a day, preferably at night.
Ointment for nail fungus
It is necessary to squeeze the juice from the leaves of the plant. Heat three tablespoons of Vaseline in a steam bath to +40 ° C. Mix a spoonful of juice with warm Vaseline. Lubricate affected skin and nails twice daily. The ointment should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than seven days.
Farm application
Red onion is famous for its deratization properties. For humans and domestic animals, this species is almost harmless, and for rodents - deadly. For the death of an adult large rat, 0.3 grams of raw sea onion is enough. Accordingly, 4 thousand mice or 1.5 thousand rats can be poisoned with one bulb. Onion has another advantage in the fight against rodents. Their corpses practically do not decompose, but, when dried, mummify. That is why red sea onions have long been used to fight rodents in homes and outbuildings.
High inflorescences of the plant are used in floristry to design floral arrangements.
Contraindications
Preparations based on sea onions are contraindicated in kidney diseases, since they irritate the renal parenchyma. To date, there is no official scientific evidence on the effect of sea onions on the body of pregnant and lactating mothers, so its use during this period is not recommended.