Pharmacognosy

3. BY
DR CHOUDHARY SAMI
THE ISLAMIA UNIVERSITY BAHAWALPUR
PAKISTAN

4. EPHEDRA
EPHEDRA

5. BOTANICAL NAME
BOTANICAL NAME
Ephedra vulgaris

6. Scientific classification
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Gnetophyta
Class: Gnetopsida
Order: Ephedrales
Family: Ephedraceae
Genus: Ephedra

7. COMMON NAME
COMMON NAME
ARABIC NAME
Alend
URDU NAME
Soma kalpa
ENGLISH NAME
Ephedra

8. HABITAT
HABITAT
1. Pakistan
2. China
3. India

9. PART USED
PART USED
Above ground parts

10. CHARACTERS
CHARACTERS
1. Stems of ephedra are slender pieces , containing numerous ridges , node
and internodes and fine longitudinal ridges on the outer surface.
2. The distance of internode is about 3-6 cm
3. The leaves are very small

11. EPHEDRINE
EPHEDRINE
a crystalline alkaloid drug
obtained from ephedra. It
causes constriction of the
blood vessels and widening of
the bronchial passages, and
is used to relieve asthma and
hay fever.

12. CHEMICAL STRUCTURE
CHEMICAL STRUCTURE
 Chemical Formula:
Chemical Formula:
C
C10
10H
H15
15NO
NO
 Molecular Weight:
Molecular Weight:
165.23 grams/mole
165.23 grams/mole
 Melting Po
Melting Point:
int: 37-39
37-39°C
°C
 Boiling Point:
Boiling Point: 253-
253-
255
255°
°C
C

13. CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS
CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS
In 1911, scientists obtained
In 1911, scientists obtained
ephedrine and
ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine by
pseudoephedrine by
hydrogenation of alpha-
hydrogenation of alpha-
methylaminopropiophenone.
methylaminopropiophenone.

14. CHARACTERISTICS
CHARACTERISTICS
White crystalline powder with a
bitter taste, soluble in water and
very soluble in alcohol

15. TEMPERAMENT
TEMPERAMENT
Warm and Dry in second order

16. DOSAGE
DOSAGE
Powder about 500 mg

17. ROUTE OF
ROUTE OF
ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATION
1.Ingestion (main method)
2.Injections (less common)

18. PHARMACOLOGY
PHARMACOLOGY
1) Ephedrine acts on part of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).
2) The principal mechanism of action relies on its indirect stimulation of the
adrenergic receptor system by increasing the activity of norepinephrine at
the postsynaptic α and β receptors.
3) Ephedrine not only release stored norepinephrine from nerve ending but
also stimulate both α and β receptors.
4) Ephedrine has indirect sympathomimetic effects and due to its ability to
cross the blood-brain barrier, it is a CNS stimulant ,it releases
noradrenaline and dopamine in the substantia nigra.

20. 1. Anti asthamatic
2. Brochodilator
3. Tonic
4. Diuretic
5. Stomchic

21. MEDICINAL
MEDICINAL
USES
USES

22. USE IN ASTHMA
USE IN ASTHMA
Powder of drugs used in cases of bronchial asthma which become
worst at night

23. USED AS STOMACHIC
USED AS STOMACHIC
It is used as stomachic to improve digestion and tone of intestine

24. Use in Weight Loss
Use in Weight Loss
1. Increases fat loss.
1. Increases fat loss.
2. Maintains muscle
2. Maintains muscle
mass.
mass.
3. Increases insulin
3. Increases insulin
sensitivity.
sensitivity.
4. Reduces lipogenesis
4. Reduces lipogenesis
(the conversion of
(the conversion of
carbohydrates to fat).
carbohydrates to fat).

25. Use in Bodybuilding
Use in Bodybuilding
 Increases metabolism,
Increases metabolism,
leading the body to
leading the body to
more efficient fat and
more efficient fat and
sugar burning
sugar burning
 Helps maintain muscle-
Helps maintain muscle-
mass while decreasing
mass while decreasing
fat
fat

26. CORRIGENT
CORRIGENT
• HONEY
• GUM ACACIA

27. COMPOUND
COMPOUND
PREPARATIONS
PREPARATIONS

28. SIDE EFFECTS
SIDE EFFECTS
 Abnormally high blood
Abnormally high blood
pressure
pressure
 Rapid, irregular
Rapid, irregular
heartbeat
heartbeat
 Anxiety
Anxiety
 Dizziness
Dizziness
 Insomnia
Insomnia
 Tremor
Tremor
 Rapid pulse
Rapid pulse
 Sweating
Sweating
 Respiratory difficulties
Respiratory difficulties
 Confusion
Confusion
 Hallucinations
Hallucinations
 Delirium
Delirium
 Convulsions.
Convulsions.

29. TOXICOLOGY
TOXICOLOGY
Ephedrine oral exposure
Ephedrine oral exposure
Quick Absorption (toxic levels develop within 1 hr)
Quick Absorption (toxic levels develop within 1 hr)
“
“Fight-or-flight” hormones released
Fight-or-flight” hormones released
Blood vessels narrow (result in high BP)
Blood vessels narrow (result in high BP)
Increase in heart rate
Increase in heart rate
Chest pain; heart not getting
Chest pain; heart not getting
enough O2-rich blood
enough O2-rich blood
Heart cell & tissue death
Heart cell & tissue death
Hemorrhage
Hemorrhage
Sudden Death
Sudden Death

30. Conclusion
Conclusion
 Ephedrine should be
Ephedrine should be
used intelligently
used intelligently
and with caution
and with caution
 Consult a doctor
Consult a doctor
before starting
before starting
supplementation
supplementation

31. THANK YOU
THANK YOU
REMEMBER ME IN YOUR SWEET PRAYERS