Biological source, Chemical constituents and Therapeutic efficacy of the following category of crude drugs: Ipecacuanha.

1. ANTI-DYSENTERIC
P R E PA R E D B Y: M S . D I V YA K A N O J I YA
A S S I S TA N T P R O F E S S O R I N P H A R M A C O G N O S Y
D E PA R T M E N T O F P H A R M A C Y, S U M A N D E E P V I D YA P E E T H
D E E M E D T O B E U N I V E R S I T Y, P I PA R I A , V A D O D A R A .
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2. Content:
Bio lo gic a l s ourc e , C hem ic al co nstitu ent s a nd
Th erap eut ic ef f ic ac y of t he fo l low in g c ate gor y o f
crude drugs:
 Ipecacuanha
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3. Synonyms: Ipecac; Brazilian or Johore Ipecac; Hippo; Ipecac uanha root; Radix
ipecacuanhae.
Biological Source: Ipecac consists of the dried root or rhizome of Cephaelis
ipecacuanha (Brot.) A. Rich. (Rio or Brazilian Ipecac) or of Cephaelis acuminata
Karst. (Cartagena, Nicaragua or Panama Ipecac), belonging to family Rubiaceae.
It should contain about 2% of ether soluble alkaloids calculated as emetine.
Geographical Source: The plant is indigenous to Brazil and also found in Colombia,
Cartagena, Nicaragua, Savantilla, Malaya, Burma, Panama and West Bengal. In
India it is cultivated at Mungpoo (Darjeeling), in Nilgiris near Collar and in Sikkim.
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4. Morphology:
Morphology of rhizome:
Size: 5–15 cm long, 6 mm in diameter
Shape: Cylindrical and slightly tortuous,
Colour: Brick red to brown in colour
Odour: Slight
Taste: Bitter and acrid
Fracture: The fracture shows a thick greyish bark and a small, dense wood,
but no pith. The rhizomes have a much thinner bark and definite pith.
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5. Ipecac root contains 2–3% of total alkaloids.
These include emetine, cephaeline, psychotrine and psychotrine methyl ether. All the
alkaloids have isoquinoline ring system and, are present in the bark.
Emetine is the active alkaloid and as it does not contain a free phenolic group it is called
nonphenolic alkaloid.
Emetine base is noncrystalline but its salts are crystalline, Rio ipecac contains slightly
more than 2% alkaloids from which emetine are two-thirds and cephaeline is one-third.
In Cartagena ipecac, alkaloids are up to 2.2% and emetine is about one-third and
cephaeline two-thirds. The other alkaloids are in traces.
Chemical constituents:
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7. 1. Powdered drug (0.5 g) is mixed with HCl (20 ml) and water (5 ml),
filtered and to the filtrate (2 ml) potassium chloride (0.01) is added.
2. If emetine is present, a yellow colour develops which on standing for
1 hour gradually changes to red.
Chemical test:
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8. 1. Ipecac is emetic and used as an expectorant and diaphoretic and in the treatment of
amoebic dysentery.
2. The alkaloids have local irritant action.
3. Emetine has a more expectorant and less emetic action than cephaeline.
4. In the treatment of amoebic dysentery emetine hydrochloride is given by injection
and emetine and bismuth iodide by mouth.
5. Psychotrine and its methyl ether are selective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency
virus.
Uses:
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9. The drug is often substituted by stem and roots of Richardsonia
scabra, Cryptocoryne spiralis, Psychotria emetica, Manettia ignita,
Hyban thus ipecacuanha, Asclepias curassavica, Anodendron
paniculatum, Calotropis gigantea and others.
The powdered drug is often adulterated with almond meal.
Adulterants:
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10. T h a n k y o u !
You will become what you think and believe about
yourself most of times!
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