32 Questions
What is the result of boiling the plant with water and filtering in the Borntrager's test?
A rose-red color develops in the aqueous layer
What is the primary purpose of storing the dried barks of Rhamnus frangula for at least one year?
To reduce the griping and emetic properties
What is the characteristic of the cork cells in the histological description?
They are thin-walled and flattened
What is the function of the modified Borntrager's test?
To convert combined dianthrone glycosides to free glycosides
What is the result of the microsublimation test for free anthraquinone?
It gives a yellow acicular/needle-like crystal that turns red with alkali
What is the characteristic of the crystals found in the phloem?
They are prisms of Ca oxalate
What is the characteristic of the sclereids found in the cortex?
They are scattered and have a thick wall
What is the family of the plant from which the dried barks are used?
Rhamnaceae
What is the outermost region of the bark?
Cork
What is the main reason for collecting barks in the spring or early summer?
The bark is most easily collected
What is the function of companion cells in phloem tissue?
Metabolically active
What is the term for all tissues outside the cambium?
Bark
In which season is Wild Cherry bark usually collected?
Autumn
What is the middle region of the bark?
Middle bark
What is the function of fibres in phloem tissue?
Supportive element
What is the term for the area between the outer bark and phloem?
Middle bark
What is the main reason for the curvature of barks during drying?
The outer side is superized (cork) while the inner side is soft
Why is the felling method of collecting bark considered useless?
The roots have more alkaloids in their barks
What is the main advantage of the coppicing method of collecting bark?
It increases the production of barks
What is the family of the Rhamnus purshiana plant?
Rhamnaceae
What is the minimum storage period for dried barks of Rhamnus purshiana before use?
1 year
What is the main active constituent of Cascara?
Anthraquinone glycosides
What is the main use of Cascara in small doses?
As a bitter stomachic
Which of the following is NOT a use of Cascara?
As a treatment for fever
What is the primary di-glucoside of anthraquinone glycosides found in the Cascara bark?
Glucofrangulin
What is the effect of storing the Cascara bark for 1 year on the primary di-glucosides?
It becomes less emetic
What is the main use of the Cascara bark in large doses?
As a laxative and cathartic
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Frangula bark?
Presence of scelerides
What is the purpose of using the Cascara bark in parasitic infestation?
As a colon cleanser
What is the chemical test used to detect combined anthraquinone glycosides?
Modified Borntrager's test
What is the characteristic of the cork in the Frangula bark?
Purplish-crimson coloring
What is the main difference between the Cascara bark and the Frangula bark?
Color of the cork
Study Notes
Flower, Leaf, Herb, Fruit, Seed, Bark, Root, Wood
- Flower: N/A
- Leaf: N/A
- Herb: N/A
- Fruit: N/A
- Seed: N/A
- Bark: defined as all tissues outside the cambium, including cork, cortex, and phloem
- Root: N/A
- Wood: N/A
Bark Collection and Preparation
- Bark is usually collected in spring or early summer when the cambium is active
- Wild Cherry bark is collected in autumn when active constituents are at the highest level
- Drying of barks leads to curvature towards the inner side due to the outer side being superized (cork) and the inner side being soft
- Methods of collection of bark:
- Felling: cutting the whole tree from the surface of the soil level and collecting the bark from the branches and trunk
- Uprooting: cutting the tree down at a suitable age and digging up the root to remove the bark from the trunk, branches, and root
- Coppicing: cutting the plant to a short distance from the ground, allowing it to grow for 7-30 years, and then cutting it again to obtain bark from the trunk and branches
Bark Types
- Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana)
- Part used: dried bark
- Active constituents: anthraquinone glycosides (cascarosides), barbaloin, and anthraquinone aglycons (emodine, aloe-emodine, and chrysophanol)
- Uses: laxative, colon cleanser, and bitter stomachic
- Frangula (Rhamnus frangula)
- Part used: dried bark
- Active constituents: anthraquinone glycosides (glucofrangulin), frangulin, and anthraquinone aglycons (frangula-emodine)
- Uses: laxative, colon cleanser, and bitter stomachic
Histological Description
- Cascara bark:
- Cork consists of small, thin-walled, flattened cells with anthraquinone contents that give a purple color with KOH
- Cortex consists of an outer zone of flattened collenchyma and a large zone of parenchyma with cluster of Ca oxalate or starch
- Phloem is traversed by 1-5 seriate medullary rays and contains anthraquinone parenchyma and fibers surrounded by parenchyma cells having prisms of Ca oxalate
- Frangula bark:
- No sclerides present
- Cork with purplish-crimson coloring
Morphological Description
- Cascara bark:
- Lenticels (breathing pores for gas exchange) present
- Epiphytes: lichens, liverworts, and moss
- Frangula bark:
- Lenticels present
- No epiphytes present
This quiz assesses knowledge of plant parts and structures, specifically in the context of pharmacognosy. It covers various aspects of plant anatomy, including flowers, leaves, herbs, and more.
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