Unorganised Drugs
Unorganised Drugs
Unorganised Drugs
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PHR 243<br />
PHARMACOGNOSY & MEDICINAL PLANTS (II)<br />
<strong>Unorganised</strong> <strong>Drugs</strong><br />
<strong>Unorganised</strong> drugs are materials having a structre that is<br />
fairly uniform throughout and are not composed of cells.<br />
They are usally derived from prats of plants of animals by<br />
some process of extraction, such as incision e.g., opium,<br />
decoction e.g., agar, expression e.g., olive oil, or natural<br />
secretions such as beeswax and myrrh.<br />
<strong>Unorganised</strong> drugs are frequently solids, but such as oils<br />
and balsams, are fluids. In their description, the morphological<br />
terms are not applied and therefore the physical characters of<br />
forms are used as, color, odor, fracture, solubilities in common<br />
organic solvents and chemical tests, all of which are used in<br />
their identification.<br />
Unorganized drugs may be classified under headings<br />
based upon their origin and nature, giving well characterized<br />
groups, such as:<br />
a) Latex e.g., opium<br />
b) Dried juice e.g., Aloes<br />
c) Extracts e.g., catechu<br />
d) Saccharine substances e.g., Honey<br />
e) Oil and fats e.g., castor oil and lard<br />
f) Gums e.g., gum Acacia<br />
g) Resins e.g., colophony<br />
h) Waxes e.g., beeswax<br />
i) Volatile oils e.g., cinnamon oil<br />
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RESINS<br />
Theses are natural or induced solid or semi- solid<br />
exudations from plants or from insects feeding on plants. They<br />
are characterised by being insoluble in water, mostly soluble in<br />
alcohol or ether, often uncrystallisable, and softening or melting<br />
at moderate heat forming sticky or adhesive fluid without<br />
volatilization or decomposition. They range in specific gravity<br />
from 0.9 to 1.25.<br />
Ingnited in the air, they burn with a smoky flame, owing to the<br />
high carbon content in their molecule. They are usually the<br />
oxidized terpenes of the volatile oils of plants and owing to their<br />
insolubility in water, have little taste.<br />
Resins, when pure are usually transparent, when they<br />
contain water, they are opaque, and and no longer hard and<br />
brittle. They are non- conductors of electricity, but when rubbed<br />
they become negatively electrified.<br />
A clear distinction must be made between natural resins<br />
and prepared resins. A natural resin is one which occur as an<br />
exudation e.g. mastic. A prepared resin may be made by<br />
extraction of the drug with alcohol, pouring the concentrated<br />
alcoholic percolate into an excess of acidified water, collecting,<br />
washing and drying the precipitate e.g. podophyllum and jalap<br />
resin. A prepared resin may also be derived from a natural<br />
oleoresin by driving off the volatile oil by steam distillation e.g.<br />
colophony.<br />
Careful distinction must be made between the above<br />
classes of resins and the so called synthetic resins. The latter are<br />
polymeric substances which are readily formed either by<br />
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condensation or by addition of readily available common<br />
chemicals. For example, phenol and formaldehyde interact<br />
initially to produce o- and p- hydroxyl benzyl alcohols which<br />
then condenseto yield a large series of phenol- formaldehyde<br />
(Bakelite) resins.<br />
Resin combination :<br />
A – Oleoresins<br />
Natural oleoresins are mixtures of volatile oils and resins<br />
and therefore they are liquids or semi liquids substances<br />
depending on the amount of the volatile present. Turpentine,<br />
copaiba and canada balsam are examples of this group.<br />
B- Gum – Resins<br />
These are natural mixtures of gum and resin, usually<br />
obtained as exudations from plants, as myrrh.<br />
C- Oleo-gum- resin<br />
Resin may occur in combination with volatile oil and gum<br />
for example asafetida.<br />
D- Glycoresins<br />
Resin may be combined in a glycosidal way with sugars as<br />
the resin of the convolvulaceae being called glycoresins which<br />
are found in Ipomea, Jalap and podophylum.<br />
E- Balsams<br />
Are resinous substances that contain the aromatic balsamic<br />
acids i.e. benzoic acid or cinnamic acid or both or esters of these<br />
acide. Balsams usually contain small amount of volatile oil.<br />
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A- RESINS<br />
1- Colophony ةينوفلقلا<br />
Colophony, (Resina colophonium Gallicum) is the residue<br />
left after steam distillation of the volatile oil from the oleoresin<br />
abtained from Pinus palustris and other species of pinus, family<br />
pinaceae<br />
Description<br />
Colophony accurs in large compact, angular, brittle, glassy<br />
pale amber to brownish- yellow masses, frequently covered with<br />
a yellow powder, transparent in thin fragments, fracture glassy;<br />
easily pulverisable to pale, almost white powder. It has faintly<br />
terebinthinate odour and taste. Colophony is insoluble in water,<br />
but soluble in alcohol, in chloroform, in ether, in benzene, in<br />
carbon disulphide, in glacial acetic acid, in fixed and volatile<br />
oils and in dilute solutions of sodium or potassium hydroxides.<br />
It is partly soluble in light petroleum. Colophony is readily<br />
fusible and burns with a heavy yellow smoke.<br />
Constituents:<br />
Colophony contains about 93% abietic acid; before<br />
distillation the resin contains large amounts of d- and l- pimaric<br />
acids. During distillation the d- pimaric acid is stable but the l-<br />
from undergoes isomeric change in to abietic acid.<br />
Test for identity:<br />
1- to about 10 ml of a 1% solution of colophony in acetic<br />
anhydride, add 1 drop of sulphuric acid; a bright purplish-<br />
red color is produced, which rapidly change to violet.<br />
2- Shake about 0.05gm of freshly powdered colophony with<br />
5 ml of light petroleum, for few minutes and filter. Shake<br />
the filterate with an equal volume of dilute copper acetate<br />
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solution; the light petroleum layer assumes a bright<br />
bluish- green color.<br />
Uses<br />
Colophony is used in pharmacy for the preparation of zinc<br />
oxide and other adhesive plasters and ointments. Large<br />
quantities of the darker grades are destructively distilled to yield<br />
rosin spirit and rosin oil. The medium grades are largely used<br />
for the manufacture of soap and the lighter grades for sealing<br />
wax.<br />
2- Guaiacum Resin – Resina Guaiaci<br />
Plant Source: guaiacum resin is obtained from the heart wood<br />
of Guaiacum officinale and Guaiacum sanctum, family<br />
Zygophyllaceae.<br />
Preparation of the resin ;<br />
Gyaiacum wood chips are boiled in salt solution, when the resin<br />
which melts at about 85°c may be more or less separated from<br />
the wood.<br />
Description:<br />
Guaiacum resin occurs in large blocks or rounded tears<br />
about 2-3 cm in diameter, often covered with a dull green<br />
powder. The powder is grayish but become green on exposure<br />
to light and air. The taste is slightly acrid and the odor is<br />
aromatic especially when warmed.<br />
Guaiacum resin is soluble in ether, chloroform, alcohol,<br />
solutions of caustic alkalies and in chloral hydrate.<br />
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Constituents:<br />
Some of the main resinous constituents belong to the<br />
group of lignans. These are phenolic compounds having a C18<br />
structure formed from C6-C3 units. Guaiaretic acid,which forms<br />
about 10% of guaiacum resin, is a diaryl butane. The resin<br />
contains about 70% α- and β guaiaconic acid and guaiacic acid.<br />
α - guaiaconic acid is the substance which yields the blue<br />
compound guaiac- blue when guaiacum resin is acted upon by<br />
oxidizing agents.<br />
Test for identity:<br />
Dissolve about 0.05 gm of freshly powdered resin in 5 ml<br />
of alcohol and add 1ml. of a solution of ferric chloride in water.<br />
A deep blue color is produced.<br />
Uses<br />
For use as a reagent the resin extracted form wood by<br />
means of chloroform is said to be the most sensitive. An<br />
alcoholic solution is used for the detection of blood stains,<br />
cyanogenetic glycosides, oxidase and peroxidase enzymes. See<br />
guaiacum wood.<br />
3- Mastic ةكتــــــسملا<br />
Mastic is a resin, containing little oil, obtained from<br />
cultivated variety of Pistacia lentiscus Var. chia, family<br />
Anacardiaceae<br />
Collection and preparation:<br />
The base of the shrub is cleared of weed. Flatten and<br />
covered with a special white soil to receive some of the flow.<br />
The stem and larger branches are then wounded by means of<br />
special knife which makes an incision about 2cm long and 3mm<br />
deep. Each plant is tapped repeatedly for about 5 or 6 weeks<br />
receiving in all about 200-300 wounds. A special tool is used<br />
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for the removing the tears which harden on the plant and the flat<br />
plates of mastic which collected on the ground .<br />
Description :<br />
Mastic occurs in yellow or greenish – yellow rounded or<br />
pear-shaped tears about 3 mm in diameter. The tears are brittle<br />
but becomes plastic when chewed. Odor is slightly balsamic, the<br />
taste is mildly terebinthinate.<br />
Constituent:<br />
Mastic is an acid resin and contains triterpenoid acids such<br />
as masticadienonic acid and triterpene alcohols, about 2% of<br />
volatile oil is also present.<br />
Uses:<br />
Used in formerly official aloe and mastic pills to modify<br />
the therapeutic action of the aloe. In dentistry it is employed to<br />
form a varnish, preparation of compound mastic paint. Mastic is<br />
also used as flavoring agent.<br />
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B-Oleoresin<br />
Copaiba,Oleoresina Copaiba<br />
Copaiba is an oleoresin obtained by incision from trunks<br />
of Copaifera Langsdorfii, family Leguminoasae, Copaiba is<br />
sometimes commercially wrongly known as Copaiba balsam .<br />
Description :<br />
Copaiba is a pale yellow, or golden brown, more or less viscous<br />
liquid, more or less transparent with occasional slight greenish<br />
fluorescence. The odor is characteristic and aromatic and taste<br />
somewhat bitter, acrid and persistent.<br />
Copaiba is insoluble in water, and is partially soluble in alcohol,<br />
chloroform, ether, benzene, acetone, carbon disulphide and in<br />
fixed and volatile oils.<br />
Constituent:<br />
Copaiba contains at least 24 sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, resin<br />
acids e.g., capaivic acid, small quantity of a bitter principle and<br />
a fluorescent substance.<br />
Uses<br />
Copaiba is chiefly employed in inflammatory affections of<br />
bladder, urethra and occasionally in chronic bronchitis .<br />
2- Male fern oleoresin. Oleoresina Filicis Malis<br />
Male Fern oleoresin may be prepared by extraction the powder<br />
rhizome, formed bases and apical buds of Dryopteris filix-mass<br />
family poly podiaceae , with ether. The ethereal extract is<br />
evaporated on a water bath until an oleoresinous extract<br />
remains.<br />
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Description :<br />
Male Ferm Oleoresin is a thick dark green liquid, frequently<br />
depositing a granular crystalline sulstance. It has an agreeable<br />
odor and bitter astringent taste. I is insoluble in water, but<br />
soluble in ether and not less than 85% of it is soluble in light<br />
petroleum.<br />
Plate 130<br />
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Constituents :<br />
The active constituent of male Fern are phloroglucinol<br />
derivatives which occur as mon, di, tri, and tetracyclic<br />
compounds. This constituent are acid in nature and termed<br />
filmarone and to which the Taenicide activity of the drug is<br />
due. Filicic, aspidinol, flavaspidic acid, flavaspidinol are also<br />
contained in it. Filmarone occurs as a bright yellowish-brown<br />
powder insoluble in water, soluble, in organic solvent, and<br />
alkali hydroxides and carbonate. It is slowly hydrolysed in the<br />
drug or in solution:<br />
Filmarone → Filicic acid + Aspidinol<br />
∆<br />
↓<br />
Filicin<br />
Filicic acid is therapeutically inert and upon heating , it is<br />
converted to its lactone filicin<br />
Test for identification :<br />
Mix about 0.1 gm of male Fern oleorpsin and 0.2 gm of talc.<br />
Shake vigorously with 10 ml of hot alcohol then filter. Add to 1<br />
ml of the filterate 9 ml of alcohol and 1 drop of ferric chloride<br />
solution a ligh green color is produced which changes to brown.<br />
Uses:<br />
Male Fern oleoresin is used as taenicide.<br />
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C- Oleo-Gum Resin<br />
Asafaetida, Gummiresina Asafaetida تـــيتنحلا<br />
Source :<br />
Asafetida is an oleo-gun-resin obtained by incision from the<br />
living rhizome and root of Ferula feotida, Family Umbelliferae.<br />
The drug is collected in Iran and Afghanistan.<br />
Collection and preparation :<br />
This involves the removal of the stem and cutting of successive<br />
slices from the vertical rootstock. After each slice is removed<br />
oleogumresin exudes and when sufficiently hardened is<br />
collected and packed in tin-lined cases.<br />
Description :<br />
The drug occurs in rounded or flattened tears, from 1.2 to 2.5<br />
cm s in diameter, or as masses of these tears formed by<br />
agglomeration. They are grayish – white to dull yellow. The<br />
freshly exposed surface is yellow and translucent or milk-white<br />
and opaque, gradually passes through a very characteristics<br />
change of color on exposure to the air or light, and finally<br />
reddish brown. The odor is strong and alliaceous persistent and<br />
the taste is bitter alliaceous and acrid.<br />
Constituent<br />
Asafetida consists of volatile oil (10-16%), resin (40-60%), gum<br />
(20-30 %) and impurities. The volatile oil consisting principally<br />
of organic sulfides and pinenes. The resin consisting of<br />
asaresinotannol free and partly combined with ferulic acid.<br />
There is also some free ferulic acid. The drug contains no free<br />
205
umbelliferone. On boiling it, however with hydrochloric acid<br />
and filtering into ammonia a blue fluorescence is produced<br />
owing to the formation of umbelliferone. Ferulic acid is closely<br />
related to umbellic acid and umbelliferone<br />
Tests for identity:<br />
1- Place a drop of sulphuric acid on the freshly fractured<br />
surface of a tear, a bright red or reddish-brown color is<br />
produced changing to violet when the acid is washed off<br />
with water<br />
2- Boil 0.5 gm of coarsely powdered drug for few minutes<br />
with 5 ml HCL mixed with 5 ml of water. Filter, cool and<br />
add to the filtrate an equal volume of alcohol and excess<br />
of ammonia, a blue fluorescence is produced.<br />
Uses:<br />
A safetida is now little used in human medicine (as a<br />
carminative, expectorant and antispasmodic) although still<br />
employed incertain food spices<br />
2- Myrrh Gummiresina Myrrha رــــــــــمـلا<br />
Myrrh is an oleo – gum resin obtained from the stems and<br />
branches of Commiphora molmol, family Burseraceae.<br />
Description<br />
Myrrh occurs in tears, rounded or irregular or in masses of tears<br />
varying much in size and shape. The surface is usually covered<br />
with a fine yellowish-brown powder. Beneath this the color is<br />
reddish-brown or reddish-yellow. The fracture is brittle and<br />
uneven.<br />
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Constituents:<br />
Myrrh contains 7-17% of volatile oil, 25-40% of resin, 57-61 %<br />
of gum and 3-4 % of impurities. The volatile oil contains<br />
terpenes, sesquiterpenes, esters, cuminic aldehyde and eugenol.<br />
The gum present in the drug is similar to acacia gum and<br />
contain also an oxidase enzyme.<br />
Test for identity :<br />
Triturate about 0.5 gm of myrrh with 1 gm of sand and shake<br />
with 10 ml of ether. Filter, divide the filtrate into two portions<br />
and evaporate in a porcelain dish. To the film left in one<br />
porcelain dish, add few drops of nitric acid; a purplish-violet<br />
color is produced. Over the film left in the other porcelain dish<br />
pass the vapour of bromine, where a violet color is produced.<br />
Uses :<br />
Myrrh has stimulant and antiseptic properties, it used as a mouth<br />
wash and us uterine stimulant and emmenagogue.<br />
D – Balsams<br />
1- Benzoin ىواجلا<br />
Benzoin is a balsamic resin obtained from the incised stem<br />
of Styrax benzoin known in commerce as Sumatra benzoin<br />
Or Styrax tonkinensis , known in commerce as Siam benzoin<br />
family Styraceae. The trees from which benzoin is obtained do<br />
not contain any special secreting cells or ducts and normally<br />
produce no benzoin, the formation of which is induced by injury<br />
to the tree.<br />
DESCRIPTION<br />
Sumatra benzoin occurs in masses consisting of opaque creamy<br />
white tears embedded in a dull grayish-brown or sometimes<br />
reddish-brown matrix. It is in hard and brittle and the fractured<br />
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surface is dull and uneven. It possesses an agreeable balsamic<br />
odor and slightly acrid taste, when gradually heated it melts and<br />
evolves whitish irritating fumes of benzoic and cinnamic acids,<br />
when a little of the crushed resin is warmed with dilute<br />
sulphuric acid and potassium permanganate, benzaldehyde is<br />
evolved indication the presence of cinnamic acid in the drug.<br />
Siam benzoin occurs in tears or in blocks the tears are of<br />
variable size they are yellowish brown or reddish brown or<br />
reddish brown externally but milky white and opaque internally,<br />
the block form consists of small tears embedded in a somewhat<br />
glassy, reddish-brown, resinous matrix. It has vanillin like odour<br />
and balsamic taste.<br />
CONSTITUENTS<br />
Sumatra benzoin contains free balsamic acid (cinnamic<br />
and benzoic acid) and esters derived form them also present are<br />
triterpenoid acids. The content of total balsamic acids is at least<br />
25% and the amount of cinnamic acid is usually double that of<br />
benzoic acid. Up to 20% of free acids may be present the drug<br />
contains, in addition traces of benzaldehyde, vanillin, phenyl<br />
propyl cinnamate, styrol and styracin.<br />
Siambenzoin consist chiefly of coniferyl benzoate, other<br />
constituents are free benzoic acid, triterpenoid acids and<br />
vanillin.<br />
TESTS FOR IDENTITY:<br />
1- when about 0.5 gm of powdered benzoin is warmed with<br />
10ml of potassium permanganate solution, a faint odor of<br />
benzaldehyde is developed only with Sumatra benzoin but<br />
not with the Siam benzoin.<br />
2- Digest about 0.2gm of the coarsely powdered benzoin<br />
with 5ml of ether for about 5 minutes decant about 1ml of<br />
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the ethereal solution into a porcelain dish containing 2-3<br />
drops of sulphuric acid and mix carefully, a deep purplish<br />
– red color with siam benzoin and deep reddish brown<br />
color in produced with Sumatra benzoin.<br />
Uses:<br />
Benzoin when taken internally acts as an expectorant and<br />
antiseptic, externally it is stimulant and antiseptic.<br />
2- Balsam of Tolu ولوطلا مسلب<br />
Balsamum tolutanum<br />
Balsam of tolu is balsam obtained by making incisions in trunk<br />
of Myroxylon balsamum, Family Leguminosae.<br />
Description:<br />
Balsam of Tolu when freshly imported is a soft yellowish -<br />
brown semi – solid, resinous mass which takes the form of the<br />
vessel in which it is kept, on keeping it gradually hardens to<br />
brownish and especially in cold weather brittle and easily<br />
powdered, readily soften when warmed, it has an agreeable<br />
fragrant odor which is not powerful and an acidulous balsamic<br />
taste and adhere to the teeth when chewed. It is easily soluble in<br />
alcohol, acetone, and chloroform.<br />
Constituent:<br />
Tolu balsam contains about 7.5 % of an oily liquid consisting<br />
of benzyl benzoate with little benzyl cinnamate, traces of<br />
vanillin, free aromatic acids, principally cinnamic (12-15%)<br />
and benzoic acid (8%).<br />
The resin forming about 80% of the drug, yields by<br />
saponification the alcohol toluresinotannol, cinnamic acid<br />
and little benzoic acids.<br />
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Test for identity<br />
1- A solution of balsam tolu im alcohol is acid to litmus<br />
paper<br />
2- To an alcoholic solution of the balsam (5%) add a few<br />
drops of ferric chloride a green color produced<br />
3- Boil 1gm of balsam of tolu with 5ml of water filter add to<br />
the filtrate 3ml of potassium permanganate and warm the<br />
odor of benzaldehyde is developed.<br />
Use:<br />
Tolu balsam in used chiefly as a pleasant ingredient in<br />
cough mixtures it possesses antiseptic properties due to cinnanic<br />
and benzoic contained in it .<br />
3-Balsam of Peru, Balsamum peruvianum<br />
وريب مسلب<br />
Balsam of Peru is a balsam exuded from the trunk of<br />
Myroxylon pereirae, family Leguminosae, after the trunk has<br />
been beaten and scorched.<br />
DESCRIPTION<br />
Balsam of peru is a rather viscid oily liquid, free from<br />
stickiness and stringiness.<br />
It appears black in bulk, but in thin layers it is dark reddish –<br />
brown and transparent. It has a fragrant balsamic odour,<br />
somewhat vanilla – like odor and acrid slightly bitter taste.<br />
The drug is almost insoluble in water. It is soluble in equal<br />
volume of alcohol. The specific gravity, 1.1470-1.170 is a<br />
good indication of purity.<br />
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Constituents:<br />
Balsam of peru consists mainly of an oily fluid portion<br />
mixed with dark resin. The fluid potion (cinnamein) constitutes<br />
from 56-90% of the drug and consists of benzylbenzozte and<br />
benzyl cinnamate. It also contains about 28% of resin consisting<br />
of peruresinotannolcombined with cinnamic and benzoic acids,<br />
small quantities of vanillin and free cinnamic acid.<br />
Test For Identity<br />
Shake about 0.5 gm of balsam Peru with 10 ml of water<br />
,the aqueous solution is acid to litmus.<br />
Uses:<br />
Balsam of Peru is used internally as an antiseptic and<br />
expectorant; applied externally it acts as an antiseptic and<br />
parasiticide, especially for scabies.<br />
Dried latex<br />
Latex is an emulsion or suspension, the continuous phase<br />
of which is an aqueous solution of mineral salts, proteins sugars<br />
tannins, alkaloids, etc., and the suspended particles are oil-<br />
droplets, resin, gum, proteins, starch, caoutchouc. This turbid<br />
fluid is often white in color, as in opium (Papaver somniferum),<br />
but may be yellow as in Argemone mexicana or red as in the<br />
rehizome of Sanguinaria Canadensis. Latex occurs in the plant<br />
in special structures named laticiferous cells, tubes or vessels,<br />
from which it is obtained by incision into the plant.<br />
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Opium نوـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــيفلأا<br />
Opium is the our dried latex obtained by incision from the<br />
fully grown but unripe capsule of Papaver somniferum, family<br />
Papaveraceae.<br />
Collection and preparation<br />
While the capsules are still green or just showing a tint of<br />
yellow, incision are made in the walls, so as not to penetrate<br />
into the loculas, which would result in loss of opium and also<br />
prevent the seeds from ripening . Precaution must be taken to<br />
chose the time for making the incisions so that neither rain,<br />
wined nor dew is likely to spoil the exudation. The incision cuts<br />
acros the laticiferous vessels and, since these vessels ramify and<br />
anastomose throughout the phloem tissues of the capsule wall,<br />
the latex from a large area of the capsule exudes in small drops<br />
along the edges of the incisions and partially dries in air. The<br />
incisions are usually made in the afternoon and the exuded latex<br />
in scraped off with a knife or special instrument early in the<br />
following morning. The collected exudate is mixed and dried<br />
and packed.<br />
Description<br />
Opium occurr in more or less rounded or cubical pieces or<br />
some what flattened or brick – shaped masses usually about 8-<br />
10cm in diameter, varying in weight but commonly weighing<br />
between 250-1000gm, sometimes wrapped in tissue paper,<br />
cellophane or covered with poppy leaves; externally dark brown<br />
to chocolate brown; more or less elastic when fresh, becoming<br />
hard and tough, or occasionally brittle on keeping, internally<br />
dark brown, coarsely granular or nearly smooth. Opium has<br />
strong charaeteristic narcotic odour and characteristic very bitter<br />
taste.<br />
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Plate 131<br />
Constituents<br />
Opium contains about 30 different alkaloids, belonging to<br />
different chemical groups which occur in combination with<br />
MECONIC acid, of which about 5% is present, and with<br />
sulphuric acid. Other constituents are small amount of mucilage,<br />
sugars, wax caoutchouc and salts of calcium and magnesium.<br />
The most important alkaloids are morphine (10-20), codeine<br />
(methyl morphine 0.3-0.4%), narcotine (2-8%), thebaine ( 0.2-<br />
0.5%) narceine, and the remaining alkaloids are present in very<br />
small quantities constituting together rather more than 1% of the<br />
drug.<br />
Test For Identity<br />
Warm about 20-30mg of powdered opium in 2-3 ml of<br />
water for few minates and then filter. On adding a few drops of<br />
5% ferric chloride solution to the filterate, a purplish red color is<br />
produced and the color is not destroyed by the addition of dilute<br />
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hydrochloric acid or 5% mercuric chloride solution (Test For<br />
Meconic Acid)<br />
Uses:<br />
Opium is unexcelled as a hypnotic and sedative and<br />
frequently administered to relieve pain and calm excitement. It<br />
is also used as an astringent in diarrhoea and dysentry and<br />
sedative in certain forms of cough. Its action is due to the<br />
morphine content. All the important alkaloids have narcotic<br />
action which decreases in the following order; morphine,<br />
papaverine, codeine, narcotine, the baine.<br />
2- ALOE ربـــــــ ــــصلا<br />
Aloes is the solid residue obtained by evaporating the<br />
juice which drains from the cut leaves of Aloe ferox and its<br />
hybrids known in commerce as Cape aloes or of Aloe vera,<br />
known in commerce as Curacao Aloes, or of Aloe Perryi,<br />
known in commerce as socotrine or Zanzibar Aloes, family<br />
Liliaceae.<br />
Preparation Of Cape Aloes<br />
The leaves are cut transversely near the base and about<br />
200 of them are arranged around a shallow hole in the ground<br />
which is lined with a piece of canvas or a goatskin. The leaves<br />
are arranged as that the cut ends overlap and drain freely into<br />
the canvas. After about 6 hours all the juice has been collected<br />
and it is transferred to a drum in which it is boiled for about 4<br />
hours on an open fire, the product is poured whilst hot into tins,<br />
where it solidifies.<br />
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Plate 132<br />
DESCRIPTION<br />
Cape aloe occurs in dark-brown or greenish-brown glassy<br />
masses. Thin fragments have a deep olive color and are semitrans<br />
parent. The powder is greenish-yellow, and has a very<br />
characteristic odour while the taste is very bitter and nauseous.<br />
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Constituents:<br />
The principle constituent of all varaties of aloes is a pale<br />
yellow crystalline substance known as barbaloin which is a<br />
C- glycoside. In Curacao aloes barbaloin is accompanied by<br />
isobarbalain which is crystalline and isomeric with baraloin.<br />
Other constituents of aloes are resin and aloe-emodin,<br />
which is ahydrolytic decomposition product of barbaloin.<br />
Test For Identity<br />
1- Borax test: Make a 1% solution of aloes in boiling water,<br />
cool and then filter. To 10ml of the filtrate add 0.25 gm of<br />
borax and dissolve by heat; pour some of the dark fluid<br />
into water where a green fluorescence is produced. All<br />
kinds of aloes respond to this test.<br />
2- Bromine test: to some clear solution of aloes prepared<br />
above, add an equal volume of saturated solution of<br />
bromine. A yellow precipitate of tetrabromoaloin is<br />
formed: All kinds of aloes respond to this test<br />
Uses:<br />
All varities of aloes have more or less powerful purgative<br />
action. Aloe is one of the most voluble purgatives in certain<br />
forms of constipation, as it improves the digestion and does not<br />
lose in activity by repetition. Externally, aloe is used in cream<br />
forms for diabetic ulcers and to promote hair growth.<br />
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Extracts<br />
Under this heading are grouped to gether drugs prepared<br />
by evaporating aqueous decotion of part of certain plants or<br />
animals.<br />
Gelatin Gelatimum نيتلاجلا<br />
Gelatin is a protein derivative often classed as<br />
scleroprotein or albuminoid, obtained by evaporating an<br />
aqueous extracts made from skim tendons and bones derived<br />
from various domestic animals, such as ox (Bos Taurus), the<br />
sheep ( Ovis aries), family Bovidae.<br />
Preparation:<br />
Raw material consisting of the skin and tendon is first<br />
subjected to a preliminary treatment known as liming, in which<br />
the material being soaked for about 20 days in dilute milk of<br />
lime. This process dissolves the fleshy matter, remove<br />
chondroproteins of the connective tissues and saponifies fats.<br />
The hides are then thoroughly washed in running water.<br />
Bones are usually ground and defatted by treatment with<br />
benzene, after deffatting the mineral matter is removed by<br />
treatment with hydrochloric acid. The treated materials from<br />
skins, tendons or bones is now heated with water in open pans<br />
with perforated false bottoms or sometimes under reduced<br />
pressure. The clear fluid is run off and is evaporated under<br />
reduced pressure until the gelatin content is about 45%. It is<br />
then run into shallow metal trays and allowed to set to a jelly.<br />
The jelly is removed and placed in trays with a wire<br />
netting bottom; this trays are passed through a series of drying<br />
rooms at temperatures, increasing by about 10 C o each time,<br />
from 30 C o to 60 C o ; this drying process takes about a month.<br />
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Sometimes bleaching by sulphur dioxide is used to produce a<br />
ligh-colored product.<br />
Description:<br />
Gelatin occurs in thin sheets or in shreds, or powder which<br />
may be nearly colorless. It is hard and brittle; when broken it at<br />
first bends and then breakes suddenly with a short fracture .<br />
In cold water it swells and when heated dissolves, it is<br />
soluble in acetic acid and glycerol, but not in alcohol and ether.<br />
A 2 % hot a queous solution should gelatinse on cooling.<br />
Constituents:<br />
Gelatin consists of the protein glutin and, when it is heated<br />
with soda lime,ammonia is evolved, showing the presence of<br />
nitrogen of which it contains about 18%.<br />
Test for identity:<br />
An aqueous solution of gelatin gives a precipitate with<br />
solution of chromium trioxide, tannic acid, trinitrophenol and<br />
lead subacetate, h Millons reagent it gives a white precipitate<br />
which becomes red on boiling .<br />
Uses<br />
Gelatin has been used a nutrient. It is also used as a basis<br />
for glycerin suppositories, for the preparation of pastilles and<br />
for the preparation of nutrient media for the growth of bacteria.<br />
2- Agar-Agar, Japanese Isinglass راـــــجّا راـــــجّا<br />
-<br />
Agar<br />
Agar is the bleached and dried product obtained by<br />
concentrating a decoction made from various species of algae<br />
belonging to the class Rhodophyceae. Agar from Japan is made<br />
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chiefly from species of Gelidium, especially G. elegans and G.<br />
amansil, family Gelidiaceae.<br />
Preparation:<br />
In Japan the seaweeds are collected by removing them<br />
from the ocean floor. They are then spread upon beach to dry.<br />
The dried seaweeds are beaten and shaken to remove sheels,<br />
sand etc. لإ weed is washed water, bleached by exposure to the<br />
sun and then boiled in open boilers for 5-6 hours with about 50<br />
times its weight of very faintly acidulated water. The liquor is<br />
strained through cloth and transferred to wooden troughs (100 x<br />
40 x 8 cm ) where it is allowed to cool in the open air and the<br />
liquid congeals. The jelly is cut into pieces about 5 x 8 x 40 cm ,<br />
using knifes guided by a ruler. These rectangular pieces of jelly<br />
is then forced through a netting and the narrow strips thus<br />
formed are spread out to dry and bleaching in the air and<br />
sunshine.<br />
Description:<br />
Japanese agar occurs in grayish white, transulucent strips<br />
about 60 cm by 0.5 – 1 cm and 0.1 mm thick. The surface<br />
crinkled and various species of diatoms are found embedded in<br />
it. Agar is tough and difficult break, it has a slight odor of<br />
marine algae and a faintly salty mucilaginous taste. It swells in<br />
cold water and 0.75 – 1 % boiled with water forms a colloid<br />
fluid, which sets to a firm jelly on/cooling:<br />
Constituents:<br />
Agar is composed chiefly of a calcium salt of a sulphuric<br />
acid ester of a carbohydrate complex. When hydrolysed by<br />
boiling with dilute hydrochloric acid it yields galactose and<br />
sulphuric acid. Agar contains a small traces of proteins .<br />
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Test for identity:<br />
1- Add few drops of N/50 iodine solution to a small a mound<br />
of powdered agar, placed in a white porcelain dish, a deep<br />
crimson color is produced (distinction from gum cacia and<br />
Tragacanth).<br />
2- Boil about 1 gm of agar with a mixture of 10 ml of water<br />
and 5 ml of dilute hydrochloric acid, for 10 minutes, set<br />
aside for about 15 minutes or centrifuge the solution.<br />
Decant the liquid and mount some of the deposit in water.<br />
Examine under the microscope for spong specules.To bout<br />
4 ml of the decanted solution add 1 ml of barium chloride<br />
solution a white precipitate is produced indicating the<br />
presence of sulphate radicle.<br />
3- Alkalinise about 2 ml of the above decanted solution then<br />
add 4 ml of Fehlings solution and heat in a boiling water<br />
bath . Reduction of the reagent is produced by the sugar<br />
resulted from the hydrolysis of agar.<br />
Uses:<br />
Agar-agar is largely used for the preparation of<br />
bacteriological culture media. Agar passes through the intestinal<br />
canal unchanged, but absorbs water during its passage and thus<br />
promotes peristalsis, for which purpose it is frequently used for<br />
treatment of constipation .<br />
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Gums<br />
غومصلا<br />
Gums are amorphous, translucent solids, insoluble alcohol<br />
and most organic solvents; but soluble in water to yield viscous,<br />
adhesive solutions, or are swollen by the absorption of water<br />
into a jelly-like mass. They consists of calcium potassium and<br />
magnesium salts of complex substances known as polyuronides,<br />
and can be hydrolysides by prolonged boiling with dilute acids<br />
when they yield mixtures of sugars and organic acids. The<br />
sugars so formed are monosaccharides, usually pentoses such as<br />
arabinose, xylose or hexoses such as galactose. The acids<br />
liberated by hydrolysis are uronic acids i.e., acids derived from<br />
monosaccharides by oxidation of the primary alcoholic group<br />
which they contain as glucuronic and galocturonic acid. Pectins<br />
and hemicelluloses also yield on hydrolysis, uronic acids and<br />
sugars, thus showing a relation-ship with gums. Gums are<br />
produced by the conversion of the cell-walls of the tissue into<br />
gums, probably by means of enzymes.<br />
Gums are abnormal products , resulting from pathological<br />
conditions brought about either by injury or by unfavourable<br />
conditions of growth and are usually formed by changes in the<br />
existing cell-walls.<br />
Mucillages are similar in constitution to gums, but are<br />
normal products of cell activity, being secreted in the cell and<br />
laid down like hemicelluloses.<br />
Artificial gum (desxtrin) is produced from starch, differs<br />
originally from gums in being entirely converted into dextrose<br />
(glucose) by dilute mineral acids, it is strongly destroy rotatory<br />
while natural gums being slightly laevortatory.<br />
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1-Acacia Gum, Gum Arabic ىبرعلا غمصلا<br />
Acaciae Gummi<br />
Gum Arabic is the dried Gummy exudation from the stems<br />
and branches of Acacia Senegal or of some other species of<br />
Acacia, family Leguminosae.<br />
Description:<br />
Kordofan gum , which is the best variety occur in rounded or<br />
ovoid tears, about 0.5 to 4 cm in diameter . they are often quite<br />
white , but sometimes show a yellowish tinge, and are opaque<br />
from the presence in the outer part of the tears of numerous<br />
small fissures. It is brittle in nature and easily break up into<br />
smale transparent angular fragments with glistening vitreous<br />
surface. The gum is almost odorless and has a bland,<br />
mucilaginous taste.<br />
Inferior grades of gum Arabic have yellow or reddish or<br />
brownish – red color as they contain traces of tannin<br />
Gum Arabic in insoluble in alcohol, but dissolves freely in<br />
water , forming translucent, viscid liquid.<br />
Powdered gum Arabic is white to yellowish-white in color,<br />
showing under the microscop angular particles, slight traces or<br />
no starch granules, occasional particles of vegetable tissues<br />
Constituents:<br />
Gum Arabic consists almost entirely of glycosidal acid<br />
named Arabic acid, combined with potassium, magnesium<br />
and calcium. By hydrolysis Arabic acid yields 1 molecule of<br />
l-rhamnose, 2 molecules of D – galactose and 3 molecules of<br />
l – arabinose and an aldobionic acid. It also contains diastase<br />
and an oxidase enzyme<br />
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Test for identity:<br />
1- Dissolve about 0.25 gm of the coarsely powdered drug in<br />
5 ml of distilled water by shaking in the cold. Add 0.5 ml<br />
of hydrogen peroxide and 0.5 ml of benzidine solution,<br />
shake and allow to stand for few minutes; a deep blue<br />
color or greenish blue color is formed due to the prescence<br />
of oxidase enzyme<br />
Uses :<br />
Gum Arabic is used medicinally as a demulcent and as a<br />
suspending and emulsifying agent for oils.<br />
2- Tragacanth Gum ءاريثكلا غمص<br />
Gummi Tragacanthae<br />
Tragacanth gum is the dried gummy exudation from stem<br />
of Astragalus gummifer, family Leguminosae, and other Asiatic<br />
species of Astragalus.<br />
The gum exudes immedialty after the injury and therefore<br />
being performed in the plant while accasia is slowly produced<br />
after injury. A section of a tragacanth stem shows that the cell<br />
walls of the pith and medullary rays are gradually transformed<br />
into gum, the change being termed gummosis.<br />
Description:<br />
Persian tragacanth occurs in thin, flattened, curved, ribbon<br />
– shaped flakes of a translucent , horny appearance and nearly<br />
colorless or faintly yellowish. The flakes are 3 cm long, 1 cm<br />
wide and about 2 mm. thick , and are marked with numerous<br />
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concentric longitudinal and transverse ridges, giving the<br />
impression that the gum has been exuded in successive portions.<br />
The flakes break with short fracture, they are odorless and<br />
almost tasteless. Soaked in cold water they swell considerably<br />
forming a gelatinous mass, but only 8 to 10 % dissolves.<br />
Constituents<br />
Tragacanth can be separated into two parts on the basis of<br />
its behavior when added to water; the portion soluble in water<br />
is named tragacanthin and the insoluble portion is named<br />
basorin. Tragacanth contains also traces of starch, cellulose and<br />
nitrogenous substances. No oxidase enzyme is present.<br />
Test for identity:<br />
Place a little powdered gum traganth on a porcelain tile,<br />
add few drops of N/50 iodine solution and rub to form a smoth<br />
paste. It acquires an olive green color.<br />
Uses:<br />
Tragacanth is used in pharmacy as a suspending agent for<br />
insoluble powders or as a binding agent in pills and tablets.<br />
Very large quantities are used as a thickening agents in calico<br />
printing and also in the manufacture of cosmetics<br />
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