Calumba Root Characteristics

Calumba Root

• Origin: Dried, transverse or oblique slices of Jateorhiza palmata root.
• Family: Menispermaceae
• Geographic Distribution: Indigenous to the forests of Mozambique and East African countries.
• Collection/Preparation: Rhizomes and roots are dug up in dry weather. Swollen fleshy roots are cut into transverse or oblique slices and dried in the shade.
• Macroscopic Characteristics:
  • Shape: Irregular, elliptical, or nearly circular, depressed in the center on both sides.
  • Size: 3-8 cm in diameter, 6-12 mm in thickness.
  • Color: Greyish-brown.
  • Odor: Distinct.
  • Taste: Bitter.

Microscopical Characteristics of Calumba Root Powder

• Cork: Several layers of tabular, polygonal, thin-walled brown cells.
• Phelloderm: Parenchymatous, containing starch granules with eccentric radiate or cleft hilum. Isolated stone cells are present in the outer region. Walls are unevenly thickened, pitted, and lignified, containing 1-6 calcium oxalate prisms.
• Phloem: Parenchyma and radial bands of collapsed sieve tissue, separated by wide medullary rays.
• Xylem: Primarily parenchyma; containing starch grains; yellowish vessels-reticulate or pitted, thickened walls; few fibrous tracheids, often irregularly curved with pitted walls.
• Powder:
  • Color: Yellowish-brown.
  • Odor: Slight.
  • Taste: Bitter.
  • Starch granules: Mostly simple, some compound; hilum is eccentric cleft or stellate.
  • Sclereids: Large, unevenly thickened, yellow, pitted, lignified, containing 1-6 prisms of calcium oxalate.
  • Cork fragments: Thin-walled, polygonal, giving a characteristic camera-shaped appearance.
  • Fragments of large vessels: Reticulately thickened or pitted, with yellow lignified walls.
• Chemical Test: With sulphuric acid (66% V/V), the walls of the vessels and sclereids change color from yellow to green.

Active Constituents of Calumba Root

• Alkaloids (2-3%): Palmatine, calumbamine, jateorhizine (yellow crystalline alkaloids).
• Colourless crystalline non-alkaloidal furano-diterpenes: calumbin, palmarin, isocalumbin, jateorin.
• Mucilage, starch, no tannin.

Uses of Calumba Root

• Bitter tonic without astringency.
• Prescribed with iron salts.
• Used for anorexia and flatulence dyspepsia.

Senega Root

• Origin: Dried root and root-stock of Polygala senega.
• Family: Polygalaceae.
• Geographic Distribution: Canada, USA, and Japan (cultivated).
• Macroscopical Characteristics:
  • Shape: Slender, greyish or brownish-yellow in color.
  • Crown: Bears stem bases and scaly leaves at the apex.
  • Pieces: Tapering and curved, dividing into two or more branches just below the crown.
  • Odor: Methyl salicylate.
  • Taste: Initially sweet, then somewhat acrid.

Active Constituents of Senega Root

• Crude triterpenoidal saponins (senegin) (6-16%).
• Methyl salicylate (volatile oil) (5%).
• Sucrose and sterols.

Tests for Identification of Senega Root

• General Test Powder boiled with water; straining and shaking produces a voluminous persistent froth.
• Confirmatory Test Powder extracted with ether, acidified with dilute hydrochloric acid, then ferric chloride solution added produces a reddish-violet color (salicylic acid).

Krameria Root (Peruvian Rhatany)

• Origin: Dried roots of Krameria triandra.
• Family: Leguminosae.
• Geographic Distribution: Peru and Bolivia.

Active Constituents of Krameria Root

• Tannins (7-9%) as Phlobatannin or Krameria tannic acid.
• Coloring matter (Krameria-red): produced by oxidation of tannin.
• Starch and Calcium Oxalate.
• Benzofuran derivatives.

Uses of Krameria Root

• Astringent (tincture used as a mouthwash).
• Antimicrobial effect for mouth and throat infections (gargles).
• Benzofuran compounds as UV filters and in sun protection preparations.

Althaea (Marshmallow) Root

• Origin: Dried root of Althaea officinalis.
• Family: Malvaceae.
• Geographic Distribution: Grows wild in England, Europe and cultivated in France and Germany.

Active Constituents of Althaea Root

• Mucilage (25-35%)
• Starch, pectin, sugars (sucrose)
• Asparagine (2%)

Uses of Althaea Root

• Emollient and demulcent (used as a soothing agent for irritations).
• Urinary tract infections and respiratory problems (e.g., bronchitis, dry cough).
• Poultices.
• Pill excipients.

Sarsaparilla Root

• Origin: Dried roots, sometimes rhizomes of Smilax ornata.
• Family: Liliaceae.
• Geographic Distribution: Central America (Costa Rica and Jamaica).
• Macroscopic Characteristics:
  • Imported in bundles.
  • Numerous, long, slender roots (3 meters long, 3 mm thick).
  • Dark reddish-brown, shrunken with longitudinally furrowed surface.
  • Nearly odorless, somewhat sweetish-acrid taste.

Active Constituents of Sarsaparilla Root

• Steroidal saponins
• Ginsenosides (related to cortisone and sex hormones).
• Rhamnose, glucose, sarsapogenin
• Fatty acids, vitamin A, D, sarsapic acid
• Starch, sulfur, iron, calcium, potassium, copper, and magnesium.

Uses of Sarsaparilla Root

• Treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., gonorrhea, syphilis).
• Anti-inflammatory in rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Certain skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema).
• Partial synthesis of cortisone and other steroids.

Dandelion Root

• Origin: Vertical rhizome and tap root of Taraxacum officinale.
• Family: Compositae.
• Geographic Distribution: Native to Europe and North America.
• Active Constituents:
  • Inulin (25-30%): Poly-saccharide
  • Sesquiterpene lactones: taraxacoside, taraxerol, and a-amyrin.
  • Various acids: caffeic, and p-hydroxyphenylacetic.
  • Carotenoids
  • Volatile oil, tannins, and potassium salts
• Uses:
  • Hepatic stimulant and tonic: stimulates bile secretion, reduces stone chances.
  • Helps restore liver function.
  • Increases digestive fluid and enzyme production.
  • Treats atonic dyspepsia/appetite loss

Ginseng Root

• Origin: Dried roots of Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng)
• Family: Araliaceae
• Geographic Distribution: Eastern north America, China, Korea, and Japan.
• Active Constituents:
  • Ginsenosides: triterpenoid saponins.
  • Panaxans and ginsenan: high molecular weight polysaccharides.
  • Polyacetylenic alcohols: panaxynol, panaxydol
  • Sesquiterpenes: γ-elemene.
  • Vitamins, minerals, free sugars.

Uses of Ginseng Root

• General tonic and anabolic (promotes protein accumulation).
• Increase body weight, protein and RNA in muscles and liver.
• Adaptogenic: improving stamina and resistance to stress; alleviating fatigue and enhancing work capacity.
• Hypoglycemic activity
• Immunological boosting.
• Treatment of adrenal/thyroid dysfunctions.

Echinacea

• Origin: Dried roots and rhizomes of Echinacea angustifolia.

• Family: Asteraceae

• Geographic Distribution: Native to America and Europe.

• Active Constituents:

  • Caffeic acid glycosides: echinacoside (bacteriostatic)
  • Volatile oils: Containing hydrocarbons (1,8-pentadecadiene)
  • Polyacetylenes
  • Polysaccharides: echinacin B (immuno-stimulant).

• Uses:

  • Activates the body's infection-fighting capacity.
  • Supports the immune system in AIDS, upper respiratory infections.
  • Topically as a bacteriostatic, fungistatic and antiviral agent for herpes, wounds, burns, eczemas, and psoriasis.
  • Anticancer and antiseptic for urinary infections.

Explore the macroscopic and microscopic features of Calumba Root, derived from Jateorhiza palmata. Learn about its origin, preparation methods, and distinct characteristics that set it apart in the herbal world.