Pharmacognosy

Professor in Pharmacy

Friday, February 7, 2025

Some Cardio tonic Crude Drugs

 

Synonym

Biological Source

Chemical constituent

Uses

Adulterants/ Allied Species

Substituent’s

Digitalis,

foxgloves

Digitalis purpurea Plantaginaceae

cardiac glycosides \ antiarrhythmic agent

atrial fibrillation\ digitoxin or digoxin

Digoxigenin (DIG) is a steroid found exclusively in the flowers and leaves of the plants Digitalis purpurea and Digitalis lanata. It is used as a molecular probe to detect DNA or RNA. It can easily be attached to nucleotides by chemical modifications. DIG molecules are often linked to uridine nucleotides; DIG labelled uridine (DIG-U) can then be incorporated into RNA probes via in vitro transcription. Once hybridisation occurs in situ, RNA probes with the incorporated DIG-U can be detected with anti-DIG antibodies that are conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. To reveal the hybridised transcripts, alkaline phosphatase can be reacted with a chromogen to produce a color precipitate.

Digitalis works by inhibiting sodium-potassium ATPase. This results in an increased intracellular concentration of sodium ion and thus a decreased concentration gradient across the cell membrane. This increase in intracellular sodium activates a sodium/calcium exchange pump that brings calcium ions into the cell while extruding sodium to restore its gradient across the membrane. The increased cytosolic calcium ion concentration results in increased calcium ion storage in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Upon action potential (cardiac contraction) more calcium is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and this gives a positive inotropic effect (higher contractility).

Verbascum Thapsus contains candelabra trichomes while digitalis contain multicellular uniseriate trichomes or grandular trichomes

Digitalis canariensis

Digitalis cariensis

Digitalis ciliata

Digitalis davisiana

Digitalis dubia

Digitalis ferruginea

Digitalis grandiflora

Digitalis isabelliana

Digitalis laevigata

Digitalis lanata

Digitalis leucophaea

Digitalis lutea

Digitalis mariana

Digitalis micrantha

Digitalis obscura

Digitalis parviflora

Digitalis purpurea

Digitalis sceptrum

Digitalis thapsi

Digitalis trojana

Digitalis viridiflora

Digitalis also has a vagal effect on the parasympathetic nervous system, and as such is used in reentrant cardiac arrhythmias and to slow the ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation. The dependence on the vagal effect means that digitalis is not effective when a patient has a high sympathetic nervous system drive, which is the case with acutely ill persons, and also during  exercise.

Arjuna  bark,

arjun.

 

Terminalia arjuna

Arjuna consists of the dried stem bark of the plant known

as Terminalia arjuna Rob, belonging to family Combretaceae.

 

 

·         Tannins: A type of polyphenol that is found in the bark of the Terminalia arjuna tree 

        Flavonoids: A type of polyphenol that is found in the bark of the Terminalia arjuna tree 

       Triterpenoid saponins: A type of chemical found in the bark of the Terminalia arjuna tree 

        Gallic acid: A bioactive constituent found in the Terminalia arjuna tree 

         Ellagic acid: A bioactive constituent found in the Terminalia arjuna tree 

        Phytosterols: A bioactive constituent found in the Terminalia arjuna tree 

        Minerals: Such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper 

 

Pacifies pitta and kapha

Heart tonic, angina, hypertension

         Cardiovascular disease: Terminalia arjuna is used to treat heart failure, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and atherosclerosis 

         Blood diseases: Terminalia arjuna is used to treat anemia and blood diseases 

        Skin conditions: Terminalia arjuna is used to treat wounds, skin eruptions, and leucorrhea 

        Asthma: Terminalia arjuna is used to treat asthma 

        Ulcers: Terminalia arjuna is used to treat ulcers 

        Diabetes: Terminalia arjuna is used to treat diabetes 

 

Side effects 

Constipation, Headache, Abdominal discomfort, Body ache, Mild gastritis, Hepatotoxicity, and Hypothyroidism.

 

 

 

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Some Laxative Crude Drugs for Pharmacy Students BTEUP

 Some Crude Drugs

Synonym

Biological Source

Chemical constituent

Uses

Adulterants/ Allied Species

Substituents

Aloe, Chinese Aloe, Indian Aloe, True Aloe, Barbados Aloe, Burn Aloe, First Aid Plant.

Aloe vera,  A. Ferox,  A. perryi, A. Africana,   A. spicata

 Xanthorrhoeaceae

Aloin, Aloe vera leaves contain a range of biologically active compounds, the best-studied being acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones and anthraquinones, and various lectins

cosmetics and alternative medicine, rejuvenating, healing or soothing properties. There is, however, little scientific evidence of the effectiveness, and treatment of diabetes, soothing, moisturizing, and healing properties, of lotions, yogurt, beverages, and some desserts.

 

 

A. barbadensis Mill., Aloe indica Royle, Aloe perfoliata L. var. vera

 A. vulgaris Lam

Castor Oil Bean, Castor Oil Plant, Palma Christi, Castor Bean Plant, Jarak

Castor oil is a vegetable oil pressed from castor beans, the seeds of the plant Ricinus communis(Euphorbiaceae)

The seeds are 40 to 60 percent oil.  It is a colorless or pale yellow liquid with a distinct taste and odor. Its Boiling point is 313 °C (595 °F) and its density is 0.961 g/cm3.[3] It includes a mixture of triglycerides in which about 90 percent of fatty acids are ricinoleatesOleic acid and linoleic acid are the other significant components.

Castor oil is well known as a source of ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated, 18-carbon fatty acid.

Acid name

Range

Type

Ricinoleic acid

85–95

ω−9

Oleic acid

2–6

ω−9

Linoleic acid

1–5

ω−6

α-Linolenic acid

0.5–1

ω−3

Stearic acid

0.5–1

saturated

Palmitic acid

0.5–1

saturated

Dihydroxystearic acid

0.3–0.5

saturated

Others

0.2–0.5

Castor oil has been used orally to relieve constipation or to evacuate the bowel before intestinal surgery. The laxative effect of castor oil is attributed to ricinoleic acid, which is produced by hydrolysis in the small intestine. Use of castor oil for simple constipation is medically discouraged because it may cause violent diarrhea.

Food and preservative

In the food industry, food-grade castor oil is used in food additives, flavorings, candy (e.g., polyglycerol polyricinoleate in chocolate), as a mold inhibitor, and in packaging. Polyoxyethylated castor oil (e.g., Kolliphor EL)  is also used in the food industry.  In IndiaPakistan, and Nepal, food grains are preserved by applying castor oil. It stops ricewheat, and pulses from rotting. For example, the legume pigeon pea is commonly coated in oil for extended storage.

Emollient

Castor oil has been used in cosmetic products including in creams and as a moisturizer. It is often combined with zinc oxide to form an emollient and astringent, zinc, and castor oil cream, which is commonly used to treat infants with nappy rash.

Medicine

Castor oil is used as a vehicle for serums administering steroid hormones such as estradiol valerate via intramuscular  or subcutaneous injection.

 

 

 

Ispaghula

Psyllium 

Plantago

Flea Seed

spogel seeds or Indian plantage seeds.

 

 

The dried, ripe seeds of Plantago ovata (Plantaginaceae)

 

 

All the seeds contain mucilage in the epidermis of the testa. The seeds may be evaluated by measuring the volume of mucilage

produced after shaking the seeds with water and allowing to stand (swelling index,)

Two fractions have been separated from the mucilage; one is soluble

in cold water, and the other in hot water giving a highly viscous solution that gels on cooling. On hydrolysis fractions yield d-xylose,

l-arabinose, and aldobiuronic acid. The seeds also contain fixed oil, aucubin glycoside, various bases, sugars, sterols, and protein. The aucubin content differs appreciably in different seed samples and species.

 

 

Plantago seeds are used as demulcents and in the treatment of chronic constipation. Ispaghula husk is used for similar purposes but

has a higher swelling factor (40–90).

 

P. asiatica,

 

P. major

 

Synonym

Biological Source

Chemical constituent

Uses

Adulterants/ Allied Species

Substituents

Senna, Senna, Indian Senna, Tinnervelly Senna, Cassia Senna

Cassia Angustifolia, (Caesalpinaceae)

sennosides A and B based on the aglycones sennidin A & B, senosides C & D which are glycosides of heterodianthrones of aloe-emodin and rhein are present. Others include palmidin A, rhein anthrone & aloe-emodin glycosides, some free anthraquinone, and some potent, novel compounds of as yet undetermined structure. C.Senna usually contains more of the sennosides. In the fruit; sennosides A and B and a closely related glycoside sennoside A1. Naphthalene glycosides; tinnevellin glycoside & 6-hydroxymusizin glycoside Miscellaneous; mucilage, flavonoids, volatile oil, sugars, resins, etc

 

 

habitual costiveness. It lowers bowels and increases peristaltic movements of the colon by its local action upon the intestinal wall. It is used as an expectorant, wound dresser, anti-dysenteric, carminative,   and laxative. Useful in loss of appetite, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, indigestion, malaria, skin diseases, jaundice, and anemia. Leaves are made into a paste and applied to various skin diseases.

Purgative, anthchiiintic, antipyretic, cathartic, laxative, vermifuge, diuretic.
Senna is a powerful cathartic used in the treatment of constipation, working through a stimulation of intestinal peristalsis

 1. Modified Borntrager’s Test: It gives a pink to red coloration for the presence of anthraquinone

Glycosides.

2. The mucilage of senna gives a distinct red coloration with Ruthenium Red solution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Some crude drugs used as laxatives include:

  • SennaAn anthraquinone laxative that has an onset of action of 6–8 hours 
  • Aloe veraAn anthraquinone laxative that has an onset of action of 8–10 hours 
  • PhenolphthaleinA triphenylmethane laxative that has an onset of action of 8 hours
  • BisacodylA triphenylmethane laxative that has an onset of action of 6–12 hours 
  • Castor oilA stimulant laxative that can provide relief from constipation within 2–6 hours 
  • Mineral oilAn emollient laxative that is a by-product of petroleum distillation
Laxatives can be classified into different types based on their mechanism of action, including: 
  • Stimulant laxativesThese include bisacodyl, senna, glycerol, and sodium picosulfate
  • Osmotic laxativesThese include lactulose, lactitol, polyethylene glycols, magnesium salts, sodium citrate, and phosphates
  • Fecal softenersThese include arachis oil and docusate
Laxatives can cause side effects like dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, nutrient imbalances, and impaction.