2. CASCARA
SUBMITTED TO:-
S.TIRUPATHI RAO SIR
M.PHARM(P.hD)
professor of vagdevi college of pharmacy
SUBMITTED BY:-
B.VENKATESH
4/4 B.PHARMACY
Y15PH1517
4. INTRODUCTION
SYNONYMS: Sacred
bark, Chittem bark
BIOLOGICAL SOURCE:
The dried bark of
Rhamnus purshianae,
belonging to family
Rhamnaceae.
GEOGRAPHICAL
SOURCE: Obtained
from both wild and
cultivated shrubs and
small trees in North
Caroline, Washington,
Oregon regions of
United States. It is also
cultivated in Western
5. MACROSCOPIC CHARACTERS
COLOUR: Purplish-brown externally, and reddish brown
internally.
ODOUR: Characteristic nauseous.
TASTE: Persistently bitter.
SIZE: About 1 to 4 mm in thickness with varying size.
SHAPE: The broken pieces are usually small and flat. It
occurs in quills or channels.
EXTRA FEATURES: Outer surface is smooth and scattered
lenticels, lichens and cork are present. Liverworts and
insects are also present sometimes. Bark shows internal
longitudinal striations.
6. MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERS
• The transverse section shows cork, cortex, sclereids, and
primary and secondary phloem
• Cork has several layers of cells which contain a yellowish-
brown substance showing purple colour with alkali.
Cortex is composed of collenchyma externally and
cellulosic parenchyma on the inner side. It also contains
small and large groups of sclereids
• The major portion of portion is occupied by secondary
phloem, in which the phloem is lignified and arranged in
tangential bands.
• Many cells of phloem parenchyma contain prisms of
calcium oxalate, thus forming a crystal sheath.
8. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
The freshly collected cascara bark contains anthranol
derivatives which cause gripping and emetic effects.
The drug becomes acceptable by storing for atleast
one year, during which anthranol portion is oxidised to
anthraquinones.
Cascara contains both O-glycosides and C- glycosides.
It contains four primary glycosides which are called as
cascarosides A,B,C and D.
A lactone present in the drug makes it bitter in test.
9. CHEMICAL TESTS
Cascara gives modified Borntrager’s test due to
presence of C-glycoside.
200 mg of the test material is boiled with 2 mL of
dilute sulphuric acid.
It is treated with 2 mL of 5% aqueous ferric chloride
solution for 5 minutes and shaken with equal volume
of chloroform.
The lower layer is separated and shaken with dilute
ammonia.
A rose pink to red colour is produced in the
ammoniacal layer.
10. CONCLUSION
Cascara is a mild drug in the series of anthraquinone
glycoside containing drugs.
In small doses, it is used as a bitter stomachic and
tonic and in larger doses as a purgative.
Cascara sagrada has laxative effects and may help
relieve constipation in some people.
11. SIDE EFFECTS
Cascara sagrada is POSSIBLY SAFE
for most adults when taken by
mouth for less than one week. Side
effects include stomach discomfort
and cramps
12. DOSING
The appropriate dose of cascara sagrada depends on
several factors such as the user's age, health, and
several other conditions. At this time there is not
enough scientific information to determine an
appropriate range of doses for cascara sagrada. Keep in
mind that natural products are not always necessarily
safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow
relevant directions on product labels and consult your
pharmacist or physician or other healthcare
professional before using.
