source ,cultivation and source

1. QUASSIA
Presented by :-
V. Ravi Kishore
2nd pharm.D

2. Synonym :-
• Bitter wood , bitter ash , lignum quassiae,
jamaica wood .
Biological source:-
• It is consist of dried wood of the stem of
Quassia amara belongs to family : -
Sumarubaceae.

3. Geographical source :-
• Quassia amara .Linn is a native of Brazil and
Guiana and is cultivated in Colombia , Panama and
in West Indies and Caribbean Islands.

4. Cultivation and Collection :-
 It is normally grown from seeds ubiquitously in its native
areas where it grows in pine ,ever green and deciduous
Forest areas , and along roads and in villages.
 Seeds and cuttings can be used for propagation
of Q.amara. Frost ( cool temp) is not tolerated, but the
plant is partially drought tolerant.
 In India it is cultivated during rainy phase of summer
season (kharif) crop. A large amount of indirect light is
recommended.
 Any soil having fair amount of organic matter is suitable for
commercial cultivation of this crop.
 About 400 gm seed are sufficient for 1 hectare the spacing
is maintained 30*15 cm .
 No major insect and disease infestation has been reported.

5.  the plant at flowering stages (90-120 days after sowing)
are cut at the base leaving 10-15 cm stem for plant
regeneration after 50-60 days after first harvest, final
harvest is performed.
 Bark is removed from the stem and big branches are cut
into logs of up to 30cm length or chips and dried to check
moulds growth.
 In Indian condition , the yield varies between 2000-2500
kg dry herb/ hectare.

6. Macroscopy :-
• Shape:- rasping , shaving or chips are plano-
convex or concave-convex .
Organoleptic character:-
• Colour :- pale yellow to bright yellow
• Odour :- odourless
• Taste :- Intensely bitter

7. Extra features:-
• Wood is straight grained , diffused and porous ,
sometimes black marking due to presence of
mould , dark grey cork may be present.
Microscopy :-
• Xylem fibres ,thick walled , pitted , arranged in
radial rows
• Xylem parenchyma : small , polygonal , less
thickened , pitted walls , few cells contain calcium
oxalate crystals.

8. • Vessels : big , either single or in groups of few.
• medullary rays : prominent , uniseriate , radially
elongated pitted , contain few starch grains and
calcium oxalate prisms,medullary rays are 6 to 10 to
15 to36 cells high and 1-4 cells wide.

11. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:
• Quassia and Neoquassian is a bitter terpenoid
principles of Surinam Quassia while
picrasmin(isoquassia) is the active constituent
of Jamaica Quassia.
• These bitter principles are obtained in 2%
yields and appear commercially under the
name of QUASSIN.
• Other compounds reported from Quassia are
18-hydroxyquassin, scopoletin (coumarin)and
cathine-6-one(alkaloid)

12. QUASSIN
 Other identified components of bitterwood are: beta-
carbolines, beta-sitostenone, beta-sitosterol,
dehydroquassins, gallic acid, gentisic acid, hydroxyquassins,
isoparain, isoparaines, isoquassins, malic acid,
methylcanthins, methoxycanthins, methoxycantins,
nigakilactone A, nor-neoquassin, parain, paraines,
quassialactol, quassimarin, quassinol, quassol and
simalikalactone
NEOQUASSIN

13. USES :
Bitter tonic
Insecticide. A good protection was shown against
different insect pests e.g. aphids, Colorado potato
beetle, Anthonomus pomorum , Rhagoletis cerasi,
Caterpillars of Tortricidae.
Anthelmintic
Used to treatmeasles , diarrhea , fever, and lice.
It also have Antifungal, Antitumor, Antifertility,
Antileukemic, and Insecticidal activity.

14. Formulation:-
 Around 200 grams of Quassia wood chips are
put together with 2 liters of water. It is allowed
to stand for 24 hours and then it is cooked for 30
min. It is then diluted with 10 to 20 liters of
water and used as a spray.
 The use of approximately 3-4.5 kg wood extract
per hectare seems to be optimal to minimize the
damage of Hoplocampa testudinea on apple
trees.

15. Medicine :-
 Traditionally, Q. amara is used as a digestive, to treat
fever, and against hair parasites (lice, fleas) and
Mosquito larvae in ponds (and do not harm the fishes.
 The component Simalikalactone D was identified as an
antimalarial.
 The preparation of a tea out of young leaves is used
traditionally in French Guyana. Experiments showed a
high inhibition of Plasmodium yoelii
yoelii and Plasmodium falciparum.
Other uses :-
 Extracts of Q. amara wood or bark are also used to
flavor soft drinks, aperitifs and bitters which can be
added to cocktails or to baked goods.

16. Contra indication :-
 In pregnancy and lactation.