Alder buckthorn

The buckthorn belongs to the buckthorn family. There are the common or fine-leaved buckthorn - Frangula alnus Mill. (Syn. Rhamnus frangula L.) and the American buckthorn - Frangula purshiana (DC.) A. Gray (Syn. Rhamnus purshiana DC.) and the African buckthorn (Rhamnus prinoides). The buckthorn is native to western North America, southern Canada and central California. The plant grows as a shrub or small tree and reaches heights of 1.5 - 3 m to a maximum of 6 m. Typical of the tree is the foul smell of the bark (name), Rhamnus purshiana produces 0.7-0.8 cm large, red to black-purple drupes.
The bark of the tree can be used to dye wool, cotton or silk.

The bark of Rhamnus frangula and Frangula purshiana, Rhamni purshianae cortex , the official extract of buckthorn bark(monographs of Commission E, ESCOP and HMPC), is used phytotherapeutically in various applications, especially for constipation.

1. Stott C et al.(2012) Randomized controlled trial of laxative use in postcolostomy surgery patients. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs 39:524-528.
2. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/faulbaum.php
3. https://heilkraeuter.de/lexikon/faulbaum.htm
4. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/rhamnus_frangula/faulbaum.htm