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Questions and Answers
What is the scientific name of the plant from which Rauwolfia root is derived?
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?
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?
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.
The rhizome of Rauwolfia serpentina contains a pericycle and a small central pith, which helps in differentiating it from the root.
What is the appearance of starch granules found in Rauwolfia powder?
What is the appearance of starch granules found in Rauwolfia powder?
Which of the following is NOT a diagnostic characteristic of Rauwolfia powder?
Which of the following is NOT a diagnostic characteristic of Rauwolfia powder?
Which of the following is NOT one of the active constituents found in Rauwolfia root?
Which of the following is NOT one of the active constituents found in Rauwolfia root?
How does reserpine affect blood pressure?
How does reserpine affect blood pressure?
What is NOT a common use of Rauwolfia root?
What is NOT a common use of Rauwolfia root?
In what region is the African Rauwolfia substitute drug primarily found?
In what region is the African Rauwolfia substitute drug primarily found?
Which of the following is a unique microscopic characteristic of African Rauwolfia compared to Indian Rauwolfia?
Which of the following is a unique microscopic characteristic of African Rauwolfia compared to Indian Rauwolfia?
The African Rauwolfia substitute drug is primarily used for the preparation of reserpine.
The African Rauwolfia substitute drug is primarily used for the preparation of reserpine.
What is the scientific name for the plant from which Ipecacuanha root is derived?
What is the scientific name for the plant from which Ipecacuanha root is derived?
Which of these names is commonly attributed to Cephaelis ipecacuanha?
Which of these names is commonly attributed to Cephaelis ipecacuanha?
Ipecacuanha root is typically subcylindrical in shape and unbranched.
Ipecacuanha root is typically subcylindrical in shape and unbranched.
What is the primary color associated with Ipecacuanha root?
What is the primary color associated with Ipecacuanha root?
What are the microscopic structures present within Ipecacuanha powder?
What are the microscopic structures present within Ipecacuanha powder?
The major alkaloids in Ipecacuanha root are emetine and cephaeline.
The major alkaloids in Ipecacuanha root are emetine and cephaeline.
What is the primary use of Ipecacuanha root?
What is the primary use of Ipecacuanha root?
How is emetine, a key alkaloid in Ipecacuanha root, administered for treatment?
How is emetine, a key alkaloid in Ipecacuanha root, administered for treatment?
Ipecacuanha root is used as an expectorant due to its alkaloidal content, particularly from emetine and cephaeline.
Ipecacuanha root is used as an expectorant due to its alkaloidal content, particularly from emetine and cephaeline.
What is a potential side effect of Ipecacuanha root?
What is a potential side effect of Ipecacuanha root?
What is the recommended dosage for Ipecacuanha root?
What is the recommended dosage for Ipecacuanha root?
The expectorant effect of Ipecacuanha is mainly due to its alkaloidal content but also includes the contribution of saponin.
The expectorant effect of Ipecacuanha is mainly due to its alkaloidal content but also includes the contribution of saponin.
Ipecacuanha is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of ailments, including common colds and coughs.
Ipecacuanha is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of ailments, including common colds and coughs.
Ipecacuanha root is commonly used for its sedative effects.
Ipecacuanha root is commonly used for its sedative effects.
Psychotrine and its methyl ether are known to be potential inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Psychotrine and its methyl ether are known to be potential inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Psychotrine, a key alkaloid in Ipecacuanha root, is considered a phenolic alkaloid.
Psychotrine, a key alkaloid in Ipecacuanha root, is considered a phenolic alkaloid.
Emetine, a key alkaloid in Ipecacuanha root, is considered a phenolic alkaloid.
Emetine, a key alkaloid in Ipecacuanha root, is considered a phenolic alkaloid.
The primary method of administering Ipecacuanha root in the past was through oral ingestion.
The primary method of administering Ipecacuanha root in the past was through oral ingestion.
The strong emetic properties of Ipecacuanha root have limited its use in treating certain conditions.
The strong emetic properties of Ipecacuanha root have limited its use in treating certain conditions.
Ipecacuanha root has only a limited number of standardized preparations.
Ipecacuanha root has only a limited number of standardized preparations.
Cephaeline is more emetic than emetine.
Cephaeline is more emetic than emetine.
Ipecacuanha root is a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of ailments, including colds, coughs, and headaches.
Ipecacuanha root is a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of ailments, including colds, coughs, and headaches.
Subcutaneous injections of emetine have been proven to be ineffective in treating amoebic dysentery.
Subcutaneous injections of emetine have been proven to be ineffective in treating amoebic dysentery.
The expectorant effect of Ipecacuanha root relies solely on its alkaloidal content, with no contribution from other components.
The expectorant effect of Ipecacuanha root relies solely on its alkaloidal content, with no contribution from other components.
Flashcards
Rauwolfia Serpentina
Rauwolfia Serpentina
A plant, also known as Indian Snake root, that is the source of antihypertensive drugs.
Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
The botanical family that Rauwolfia Serpentina belongs to.
Rhizome
Rhizome
The underground stem of a plant, similar to a root, but with nodes and internodes.
Hypotensive Drug
Hypotensive Drug
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Root Morphology
Root Morphology
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Cylindrical shape
Cylindrical shape
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Tortuous
Tortuous
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Greyish-yellow colour
Greyish-yellow colour
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Pericycle
Pericycle
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Central pith
Central pith
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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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