Untitled Quiz

Calumba Root

Origin: Dried, transversely or obliquely sliced root of Jateorhiza palmata.
Family: Menispermaceae.
Geographic Sources: Indigenous to forests of Mozambique and East African countries.
Collection & Preparation: Rhizomes with roots are dug up during dry weather. Swollen fleshy roots are cut into transverse or oblique slices and dried in shade.
Macroscopic Characteristics:
- Shape: Irregular, elliptical, or nearly circular with central depression on both sides.
- Size: 3-8 cm in diameter and 6-12 mm thick.
- Color: Greyish-brown.
- Odor: Distinct.
- Taste: Bitter.

Microscopical Characters

Cork: Several layers of tabular, polygonal, thin-walled, brown cells.
Phelloderm: Parenchymatous cells containing starch granules; eccentric radiate or cleft hilum. Contains large isolated stone cells with unevenly thickened, pitted, and lignified yellow walls; contain 1-6 prisms of calcium oxalate.
Phloem: Parenchyma and radial bands of collapsed sieve tissue separated by wide medullary rays.
Xylem: Yellow, largely composed of parenchyma containing starch granules, radial rows of yellowish vessels, and reticulate or pitted thickened fibrous tracheids that often have pitted walls.

Powder

Color: Yellowish-brown.
Odor: Slight.
Taste: Bitter.
Microscopic Features: Mostly simple starch granules; some compound with 2-3 components; hilum is eccentric cleft or stellate shaped. Large yellow sclereids that are unevenly thickened, yellow-pitted, lignified, and contain 1-6 calcium oxalate prisms. Fragments of cork cells. Fragments of large vessels with reticulately thickened or pitted yellow lignified walls.

Active Constituents

2-3% isoquinoline alkaloids (palmatine, calumbamine, and jateorhizine).
Colourless crystalline non-alkaloidal furano-diterpenes (calumbin, palmarin, isocalumbin, and jateorin).
Mucilage, starch, no tannin.

Uses

Bitter tonic without astringency and stomachic.
Prescribed with iron salts.
Prescribed for anorexia and flatulent dyspepsia.
Stimulates taste buds, leading to saliva and digestive juice stimulation.

Senega Root

Origin: Dried root and rootstock of Polygala senega.
Family: Polygalaceae.
Geographic Sources: Canada, USA, and Japan.
Macroscopical Characteristics:
- Shape: Slender, greyish or brownish-yellow.
- Apex: Crown of scaly leaves bearing stem bases.
- Root Structure: Tapering, curved, and branching (dividing into 2 or more branches below the crown).
- Odor: Methyl salicylate.
- Taste: Initially sweet, then acrid.

Active Constituents

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

Tests for Identity

General Test: Powder boiled with water, solution strained, shaking resulting in persistent froth.
Confirmatory Test: Powder extracted with ether acidulated with dilute hydrochloric acid, ether removed, filtering, then ferric chloride solution added. Creates red-violet colour (salicylic acid).

Uses

Stimulant expectorant for chronic bronchitis.
Often used with other expectorants (e.g., Ipecac, ammonium citrate, expectoral syrup).

Krameria Root (Rhatany Root), Peruvian Rhatany

Origin: Dried roots of Krameria triandra.
Family: Leguminosae.
Geographic sources: Peru and Bolivia.
Macroscopical Characteristics: Large root with several long branches. Larger pieces are dark reddish-brown. Smaller pieces are typically brighter and smoother, with no visible transverse fissures. The bark has a strong astringent taste. The wood is tasteless.

Active Constituents

Tannins: Phlobatannin or Krameria tannic acid (7-9%).
Colouring matter: Krameria-red (phlobaphene) –from oxidation of tannins.
Starch.
Calcium oxalate.
Benzofuran derivatives (rhataniphenols I and II).

Uses

Astringent used as mouthwash.
Antimicrobial, useful in mouth and throat infections as a gargle.
Benzofuran compounds are effective UV filters and used in suntan preparations.

Althaea, Marshmallow Root (Mucilagenous Root)

Origin: Dried root of Althaea officinalis.
Family: Malvaceae.
Geographic Sources: Wild-growing in England, Europe, and cultivated in France and Germany.
Macroscopical Characteristics: Root deprived of the brown corky layer and rootlets.

Active Constituents

Tannins.
Phlobaphene.
Starch.
Calcium oxalate.
Benzofuran derivatives (rhataniphenols).

Uses

Astringent; tincture used as mouthwash.
Antimicrobial; useful as a gargle for mouth and throat infections.
Benzofuran compounds act as effective UV-filters and are used in sun protection preparations.

Sarsaparilla Root

Origin: Dried roots (and sometimes rhizomes) of Smilax ornata, from the Liliaceae family.
Geographic Sources: Central America, especially Costa Rica and Jamaica.
Macroscopical Characteristics: Imported in bundles of numerous slender roots, 3m long and 3mm thick; dark reddish-brown, shrunken and longitudinally furrowed; nearly odourless, with sweetish-acrid taste.

Active Constituents

Steroidal saponins (related to cortisone and sex hormones)
Sarsapogenin, rhamnose and glucose (found during hydrolysis).
Similagenin (isomeric with sarsapogenin)
Omega-3 fatty acids.
Vitamin A and D.
Sarsapic acid.
Starch.
Sulfur.
Iron.
Calcium.
Potassium.
Copper.
Magnesium.

Uses

General tonic & anabolic (increases protein accumulation).
Increases body weight, protein, and RNA in muscles and liver.
Stimulate bile production and digestive fluids, used in atonic dyspepsia, and for loss of appetite, indigestion, liver, and gallbladder problems.
Mild laxative for habitual constipation (inulin).
Effective diuretic, increasing urine flow.

Dandelion Root (Taraxacum Root), Hepatic Stimulant Drug

Origin: Vertical rhizome and taproot of Taraxacum officinale.
Family: Compositae.
Geographic Sources: Europe and North America
Active Constituents:
- 25-30% Inulin and other polysaccharides.
- Sesquiterpene lactones (taraxacoside).
- Triterpenes (taraxerol and alpha-amyrin).
- Acids (caffeic, p-hydroxyphenyl).
- Carotenoids (yellow coloring).
- Volatile oils, tannins, potassium salts.

Uses

Hepatic stimulant and tonic (traxacoside).
Stimulates bile secretion, reducing stone formation.
Restores liver function.
Increases secretion of digestive fluids and enzymes.
Bitter tonic for atonic dyspepsia; helps with loss of appetite, indigestion, liver and gallbladder problems.
Mild laxative (inulin).
Effective diuretic

Ginseng Root

Origin: Dried roots of Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng).
Family: Araliaceae
Geographic Sources: Eastern North America, and cultivated in China, Korea, and Japan.
Active Constituents:
- Ginsenosides (triterpenoid saponins).
- High molecular weight polysaccharides (glycans).
- Polyacetylenic alcohols (panaxynol, panaxydol).
- Sesquiterpenes (y-elemene).
- Sterols, vitamins (D group), flavonoids, amino acids.
- Sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose).
- Minerals (e.g., Zn, Cu, Mn, Ca).
- Vitamins (e.g., B1, B2, B12).
- Nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin.

Uses

General tonic and anabolic; promotes protein accumulation (treatment of anemia).
Increases body weight, protein, and RNA in muscles and liver.
Adaptogenic; enhances physical and mental performance; and reduces fatigue.
Increases capacity for work.
Potential benefits for lowering cholesterol, improving immune function, treating diabetes, and enhancing sexual activity, among other functions.

Echinacea (American Coneflower)

Origin: Dried roots and rhizomes of Echinacea angustifolia.
Family: Asteraceae.
Geographic Sources: Indigenous to America and Europe.
Active Constituents:
- Caffeic acid glycosides (echinacoside).
- Volatile oils (hydrocarbon 1,8 pentadecadiene).
- Polyacetylenes.
- Polysaccharides (echinacin B).

Uses

Immunostimulant: boosts the body's infection-fighting ability.
Treatment of colds and respiratory tract infections.
Use topically as bacteriostatic, fungistatic, antiviral agent to heal wounds, burns, eczema, and psoriasis.
Anticancer and antiseptic for urinary tract infections.
Used in various preparations, including ointments, oral liquids, injections, lotions, and cosmetics