Rauwolfia Root: Morphology and Uses
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Questions and Answers

What is the scientific name of the plant from which Rauwolfia root is derived?

Rauwolfia serpentina

Which of the following regions are native to Rauwolfia serpentina?

  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Thailand
  • All of the above (correct)

    • What is the primary morphological similarity between the root and rhizome of Rauwolfia serpentina?

  • They are both cylindrical in shape.
  • They both have a grey to yellowish color with longitudinal wrinkles.
  • They are both tortuous and rarely branched.
  • All of the above (correct)

    • The rhizome of Rauwolfia serpentina contains a pericycle and a small central pith, which helps in differentiating it from the root.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the appearance of starch granules found in Rauwolfia powder?

    <p>Simple, spherical with a slit radiate hilum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a diagnostic characteristic of Rauwolfia powder?

    <p>Presence of pollen grains</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT one of the active constituents found in Rauwolfia root?

    <p>Caffeine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does reserpine affect blood pressure?

    <p>It lowers blood pressure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is NOT a common use of Rauwolfia root?

    <p>Anti-inflammatory agent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what region is the African Rauwolfia substitute drug primarily found?

    <p>Tropical Africa, from the west coast of Mozambique</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a unique microscopic characteristic of African Rauwolfia compared to Indian Rauwolfia?

    <p>Presence of sclereids in the phelloderm and phloem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The African Rauwolfia substitute drug is primarily used for the preparation of reserpine.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the scientific name for the plant from which Ipecacuanha root is derived?

    <p>Cephaelis ipecacuanha</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these names is commonly attributed to Cephaelis ipecacuanha?

    <p>Both A and B</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ipecacuanha root is typically subcylindrical in shape and unbranched.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary color associated with Ipecacuanha root?

    <p>Brick red</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the microscopic structures present within Ipecacuanha powder?

    <p>The microscopic structures in Ipecacuanha powder include cork cells, starch granules, calcium oxalate crystals, substitute fibers, and tracheids or tracheidal vessels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The major alkaloids in Ipecacuanha root are emetine and cephaeline.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary use of Ipecacuanha root?

    <p>Treatment of amoebic dysentery</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is emetine, a key alkaloid in Ipecacuanha root, administered for treatment?

    <p>Subcutaneous injections of emetine have been used as a treatment method for amoebic dysentery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ipecacuanha root is used as an expectorant due to its alkaloidal content, particularly from emetine and cephaeline.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential side effect of Ipecacuanha root?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the recommended dosage for Ipecacuanha root?

    <p>It is crucial to use Ipecacuanha only under the guidance of a health professional, and only in emergency situations. It is not recommended for self-medication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The expectorant effect of Ipecacuanha is mainly due to its alkaloidal content but also includes the contribution of saponin.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ipecacuanha is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of ailments, including common colds and coughs.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ipecacuanha root is commonly used for its sedative effects.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Psychotrine and its methyl ether are known to be potential inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Psychotrine, a key alkaloid in Ipecacuanha root, is considered a phenolic alkaloid.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Emetine, a key alkaloid in Ipecacuanha root, is considered a phenolic alkaloid.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The primary method of administering Ipecacuanha root in the past was through oral ingestion.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The strong emetic properties of Ipecacuanha root have limited its use in treating certain conditions.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ipecacuanha root has only a limited number of standardized preparations.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Cephaeline is more emetic than emetine.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ipecacuanha root is a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of ailments, including colds, coughs, and headaches.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Subcutaneous injections of emetine have been proven to be ineffective in treating amoebic dysentery.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The expectorant effect of Ipecacuanha root relies solely on its alkaloidal content, with no contribution from other components.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Rauwolfia Root

    • Origin: Dried roots and rhizomes of Rauwolfia serpentina
    • Family: Apocynaceae
    • Geographic Sources: Indigenous to India, Pakistan, and Thailand
    • Uses: Antihypertensive drug

    Morphology

    • Roots and Rhizomes: Similar morphology, cylindrical, often tortuous (winding), rarely branched
    • Color: Greyish-yellow, with longitudinal wrinkles (young) or ridges (older)
    • Scars: Scars of aerial stems or rootlets present
    • Taste: Bitter
    • Odor: Odorless

    Histology

    • Rhizome: Similar to the root, but identified by pericycle and small central pith
    • Transverse Surface: Shows narrow yellowish-brown bark, dense pale yellow wood occupying most of the cross-section

    Microscopical Characters

    • Root: Cork layers (2-8 zones), alternating with broader lignified cells
    • Phelloderm: Parenchymatous tissue containing calcium oxalate
    • Starch Grains: Simple, rounded, with a central hilum
    • Phloem: Narrow, parenchymatous, with scattered sieve tissue, starch grains, and resin canals.
    • Xylem: Wholly lignified, with medullary rays (1-5 cells wide)

    Rhizome Differences

    • Pericycle: Unlignified fibers (balloon shape)
    • Pith: Ring of small strands of perimedullary phloem at periphery

    Powder of Rauwolfia

    • Color: Pale brownish-yellow, with a slight bitter odor and taste
    • Microscopical Features: Fragments of brown cork cells (polygonal & lignified/non-lignified), simple spherical starch granules, fragments of lignified xylem parenchyma, thickened xylem fibers. Calcium oxalate crystals (irregularly prismatic), pericyclic fibers (elongated, large).

    Active Constituents

    • Alkaloids: Reserpine, rescinnamine, serpentine, serpintinine, ajmaline, ajmalinine
    • Other Compounds: Resinous matter, phytosterols, fatty acids, unsaturated alcohols, dextrose, and fumaric acid

    Uses

    • Lowering Blood Pressure: Reserpine used in hypertension
    • Hypnotic and Sedative: Treatment of insomnia and neuropsychiatric disorders
    • Cardiac Arrhythmias: Ajmaline in Japan

    Precautions

    • Gastrointestinal Motility: Rauwolfia alkaloids can increase gastrointestinal motility and secretion
    • Peptic Ulcer/Ulcerative Colitis/Gall Stones: Use with caution in patients with a history of these conditions.

    African Rauwolfia

    • Source: The dried roots of Rauwolfia vomitoria (Family Apocynaceae)
    • Distribution: Tropical Africa, primarily from the west coast of Mozambique
    • Use: Primary preparation of Reserpine

    Ipecacuanha Root

    • Origin: Dried root or root and rhizome of Cephaelis ipecacuanha

    • Family: Rubiaceae

    • Geography: Indigenous to Brazil

    Ipecacuanha Root - Active Constituents

    • Alkaloids: Emetine, cephaeline, psychotrine, psychotrine methyl ether
    • Other Components: Crystalline glycosidal tannin (ipekacuanhin and ipecacuanhic acid), saponin (ipecoside), iridoid glycosides (sweroside), starch, pectin, sugars, calcium oxalate, and fatty matter

    Ipecacuanha Root - Uses

    • Expectorant: In small doses
    • Emetic: In larger doses

    Ipecacuanha Root - Precautions

    • Gastrointestinal Motility: Rauwolfia alkaloids can increase gastrointestinal motility and secretion
    • Peptic Ulcer/Ulcerative Colitis/Gall Stones: Use with caution in patients with a history of these conditions.

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    Description

    Explore the characteristics of Rauwolfia root, including its origin, morphology, histology, and microscopical features. This quiz will test your knowledge of this significant antihypertensive drug derived from Rauwolfia serpentina, indigenous to South Asia.

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