Witch Hazel

WITCH HAZEL

(Hamamelis virginiana Linn.)

Witch Hazel:- is the dried leaves of Hamamelis virginiana  (Hamamelidaceae), common in the woods of Eastern American continent (Virginia).

    The branches of the plants are ramified and bear leaves on short petioles which are asymmetrical at the base, and have crenate margins. The tetramerous flowers blossom after the leaves fall. This imparts the ornamental characters to this species. The drug is dull green or reddish and slightly astringent in taste.

Chemical Constituents :-

The leaves contain about 0.06% volatile oil (characterized by the presence of acetaldehyde, and ionones), flavonol glycosides (astragalin, myricitrin) and upto 10.5% tannins (gallic acid, polygalloylglucose, hamamelitannin and analogues) leaves also contain  polyphenolic constituents, procyanidins and procyanidin-prodelphinidin co-polymers are the chief constituents. The bark of the plant mainly contains hamamelitannin, upto 65% in hydroalcoholic extract.

 

Cosmetic uses:-

The drug is used in cosmetology as Hamamelis water or distilled witch Hazel extract in astringent preparation. Hamamelis leaf based phytomedicine are traditionally used locally to relieve eye irritation or discomfort due to strain, sea water, swimming pool water and smoky atmospheres.