Pharmacognosy II: Medicinal Herbs PDF

Pharmacognosy II Medicinal Herbs Content: Introduction to herbs. Herbs containing Volatile oil e.g. Mentha & Thyme. Herbs containing Alkaloids e.g. Lobelia, Hyoscyamus & Catharanthus. Herbs containing Resin e.g. Cannabis. Thallophytes. Miscellaneous herbs. ...

Pharmacognosy II Medicinal Herbs Content: Introduction to herbs. Herbs containing Volatile oil e.g. Mentha & Thyme. Herbs containing Alkaloids e.g. Lobelia, Hyoscyamus & Catharanthus. Herbs containing Resin e.g. Cannabis. Thallophytes. Miscellaneous herbs.  Introduction to herb Definition of Herb In Botany: it is a plant with non-woody & non permanent stem, which dies after fruiting. In Pharmacognosy: it is a drug formed of a tender part of the plant axis (stem) together with the leaves, flowers & fruits (whole aerial parts) e.g. Lobelia. It may consist of upper part of the aerial shoot i.e. tops e.g. Cannabis or whole undifferentiated plant body or thallus e.g. Carrageen & Ergot. Collection of Herb Herbs are collected from: Annual plants [live for one season & die after production of seeds]. Biennial plants [live for 2 seasons before production of seeds & then die]. Perennial plants [live for more than 2 years, surviving e.g. trees]. Stem It is the part of the plant axis that carries leaves or leaves modifications (fruits and flowers) at the nodes. 1. General characters. 2. Shape. 3. Kind. 4. Branching. 5. Surface. 6. Fracture. 7. Structure. 1. General characters of stem 1.The stem is formed of segments called internodes jointed at points called nodes at which leaves arise. 2. Usually, the stem arises over the ground and known as aerial; occasionally, it grows under the ground and known as subterranean. 3. It Conducts water & minerals to the leaves & the elaborated food from the leaves to the root. 2- Shape of stem 1. Cylindrical. 2. Angular: with angles & sides, It may be; triangular with 3 sides or quadrangular or square with 4 sides as Mentha or Pentagonal with 5 sides. 3. Ribbed: marked with alternate ridges & furrows e.g. Broom tops. 4. Winged: marked with wings e.g. Lobelia. 5. Flattened or Collapsed: either normally or by compression or due to shrinkage during drying e.g. Belladonna. 6.Tortuous: twisted, usually by winding e.g. Convolvulus.  2- Shape of stem Cylindrical stem Quadrangular stem Ribbed stem Winged stem 3. Kind of stem 1. Herbaceous: soft, easily broken, usually green e.g. Mentha. 2. Succulent: thick, fleshy due to stored water e.g. Euphorbia. 3. Woody: it is usually covered with cork with large amounts of secondary xylem as in case of shrubs & trees e.g. Eucalyptus. Herbaceous Succulent Succulent Woody 3. Kind of stem 4. Suffruticose or shrubby stem: When lower parts are woody & herbaceous in the upper part e.g. Thyme. 5. Culm: When having hollow internodes & enlarged nodes e.g. Maize. 6. Creeping: With the main axis of plant lies along the ground. At each node, roots & aerial shoots are given. Suffruticose or shrubby stem Culm stem Creeping stem 3. Kind of stem 7. Runner: when it is a prostrate branch, (not the main axis) arising in the axial of a leaf at the base of the stem at the ground level. where the end of the branch on coming in contact with the soil becomes rooted & turned upwards to give a new young shoot e.g. Strawberry. 8. Sucker: like runner but branch arise and grow below the level of the ground and later become an aerial stem. 3. Kind of stem 9. Climbing: When it attaches itself to a support by means of tendrils (threadlike appendage, often growing in spiral form) or hooks due to its low content of supporting elements e.g. Piper. 10.Twining: Winding itself around a support e.g. Convolvulus. Climbing stem Twining stem 4- Branching of stem A. Axillary or lateral: 1. Monopodial or Racemose or Indefinite Branching; in which the main axis continues to grow, giving off lateral branches that don’t exceed length. 2. Sympodial or Cymose or Definite Branching; in which main axis stops growing because apical bud is destroyed or developed into flower or transformed into tendrils. B. Dichotomous or Apical: in which the growing apex divided into two halves which grow into two equally strong branches. It is common in Thallophytes e.g. Chondrus. Monopodial growth Dichotomous branching 5- Surface of the Stem 1. Glabrous or smooth. 2. Glossy. 3. Rough. 4. Hairy. 5. Spiny. 6. Striated or wrinkled. Hairy stem Spiny stem Striated stem 6- Fracture of the Stem 1. Short: when it breaks quickly giving smooth fractured surface. 2. Fibrous: when it resists breaking showing fibrous projections from the broken surface. 3. Splintery: when it breaks irregularly giving jagged projections in the broken surfaces. 4. Flexible: when it breaks only by twisting. 5. Horny: when it is hard to break. 6. Granular: when the broken surfaces show grain- like appearance. 7- Structure of the Stem Dicot stem The stem of dicotyledons usually shows the following layers from outside inwards 1. An epidermis. 2. A cortex. 3. An endodermis. 4. A pericycle. T.S. in Dicot stem 5. Vascular bundle. Stele 6. Pith. Monocot stem The stem of monocotyledons usually shows large number of closed vascular bundles scattered irregularly but more crowded near periphery through the ground tissue, that is not differentiated into pith and pericycle. T.S. in Monocot stem 7- Structure of the Stem 1. Epidermis: It is the outermost layer and it composes of single row of polygonal (tangentially elongated) cells covered with cuticle and shows stomata & trichomes. 2. Cortex: It is narrow in dicotyledons and absent in monocot. It exhibits 3 regions: Outer region or Hypodermis: it lies under the epidermis and usually formed of collenchyma to strengthen the young stem. Middle region: it shows chloroplast (3-4 layers) responsible for photosynthesis process and several layers of parenchyma cells to store the synthesized food with intercellular spaces for gaseous exchange, but may show sclerenchyma e.g. Broom tops. 3. Inner region of cortex (Endodermis): It is a single layer of tightly-packed rectangular cells bordering the stele of the stem with no intercellular spaces. The cells may be lignified e.g. Casparian strips in Lobelia, or numerous starch (Starch sheath) e.g. Solanaceous herbs. Stele = Central vascular cylinder (pericycle + vascular tissue + pith or medulla) 4. Pericycle: ❑ Outer sheath of the vascular bundles to protect them. ❑ vary in thickness from a single layer to generally several layers. ❑ It may be: Parenchymatous. Isolated groups of fibers alternating with patches of parenchyma e.g. Solanum. Occasionally sclerieds e.g Cinnamon. 5. Vascular bundle. It consists of phloem outside of the bundle and xylem towards the center with cambium in between. Types of V.B.: Collateral in which phloem and xylem patches are lying on the same radius which may be either; - Open: Cambium is present (dicot) - Closed: Cambium is absent (monocot) Bicollateral: it consists of a single patch of xylem between two patches of phloem (phloem, cambium, xylem, phloem). Concentric: - Amphiciribral (vasocentric) : Xylem is surround by phloem. - Amphivaslal: Phloem is surround by xylem. 6. Pith (Medulla) It occupies the large central part of the stem. It consists of thin-walled parenchyma cells that contains starch and calcium oxalate crystals with intercellular air spaces for the exchange of gases. Between each vascular bundle is a band of parenchyma, the medullary rays, continuous with the cortex and the pith. Types of Steles Protostele (monostele) It is the simplest type. Stele is formed of xylem surrounded by phloem followed by pericycle surrounded by endodermis with no pith. Siphonostele With central pith surrounded by a continuous ring of vascular bundle. It show phloem either outside xylem only and termed ectophloeic or on both outer and inner sides of xylem and termed amphiphloeic. Atactostele In monocots. Scattered vascular bundles Herbs containing Volatile oil Mentha. Thyme.  Mentha (Peppermint) Thyme Official Herb Non-Official Herb Botanical origin: Dried leaves and flowering Dried leaves & flowering tops of tops of Mentha piperita F. Labiatae (Lamiaceae). Thymus vulgaris F. Labiateae. Morphology: Morphology: Stem: quadrangular green to dark purple, Stem: quadrangular, grayish- brown or nearly glabrous. purplish & hairy. Herbaceous. Suffruticose or shrubby. Leaves: petiolate with serrate margin. Leaves: sessile with entire margin. *Opposite decussate. *Opposite decussate.  Mentha (Histology) Thyme (Histology) Outline Quadrangular. Quadrangular or circular. Cortex Collenchyma in the corners only. Collenchyma is one continuous layer. Xylem & pith Narrow xylem & wide pith. Narrow pith & wide xylem. Glandular Labiaceous & Capitate. Labiaceous & Capitate. hair Non- Multicellular uniseriate with warty Unicellular conical & bent hair glandular hair cuticle.  Mentha powder Thyme powder Odor Aromatic Aromatic Taste Aromatic followed by a cold Aromatic & spicy sensation Stomata Diacytic Diacytic Glandular Labiaceous & Capitate (unicellular Labiaceous & Capitate (unicellular hair head, unicellular stalk). head, unicellular stalk). Non- Multicellular uniseriate with warty Bent hair (unicellular conical hair,1-3 glandular hair cuticle. cells).  Mentha (Active constituent) Thyme (Active constituent) 1) Volatile oil (0.7 to 1.5%), which1) Volatile oil 1% (containing contains up to 78% of free menthol &phenolic compounds, mainly up to 20% of menthol combined asthymol & carvacrol). esters. 2) Tannins 2) Tannin (higher). 3) Flavonoids. 3) Flavonoids. 4) Saponin.  Mentha Thyme Chemical Tests: Positive microchemical tests with Positive microchemical tests with Sudan lll. Sudan lll. Special chemical test: Menthol Special chemical test: Thymol crystals + few drops Conc. H2SO4 crystals + 1ml of glacial acetic + few drops of vanillin / H2SO4 → acid + few drops of conc. H2SO4 + orange- yellow color + H2O → 1 drop of HNO3 → a deep bluish violet color green color is developed.  Mentha (Uses & actions) Thyme (Uses & actions) Internally Internally G.I.T G.I.T 1. Spasmolytic, carminative and digestive. 1. Spasmolytic, carminative and 2. Promotion of liver & gall bladder function digestive. (choleretic & cholagogue). 2. Anthelmintic for hookworms 3. Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (vermifuge). Respiratory tract Respiratory tract Common cold (Nasal decongestant) Whooping cough, bronchitis as expectorant secretomotor &disinfectant Externally antispasmodic). 1. Antiseptic in mouth wash & toothpaste (antibacterial &antifungal) and local anesthetic. Externally 2. counter irritant &antirheumatic. 1. Antimicrobial in inhalations. 3. antipruritic (cool sensation). 2. Dental preparations as antiseptic. The oil should be administered in the form of enteric-coated capsules. Pharmaceutical Preparation Herbs Containing Alkaloids Hyoscyamus. Lobelia. Catharanthus. Passiflora  Hyoscyamus Lobelia Name Egyptian Henbane, Hyoscyami Indian Tobacco, asthma weed. Mutici ‫عشب السكران المصري‬ ‫دخان هندي‬ Botanical The dried leaves and flowering The dried aerial part of Lobelia inflata origin tops of Hyoscyamus muticus (Family Campanulaceae) collected (Family Solanaceae). towards the end of the flowering stage.  Hyoscyamus Lobelia Morphology Stem: cylindrical, grayish yellow, Stem: angular, irregularly furrowed hairy and hollow. with narrow 2 to 5 wings, green to yellowish and hairy. Leaves: pale green to yellow, Leaves: pale green; oblong or oval petiolate, hairy, rhomboidal with to lanceolate, shortly petiolate or acuminate apex, sinuate dentate sessile with crenate-dentate margin. margin and pinnate venation. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hpx-u2S8Pag/TPQmbslYFGI/AAAAAAAAAJc/D5WGluqyyeM/s320/Hyo.%2B12%2B%25282%2529.jpg  Hyoscyamus (Histology) Lobelia (Histology) Epidermis Polygonal cells with sinus Rectangular cells with striated cuticle anticlinal wall showing anisocytic pitted anticlinal walls, showing large stomata& glandular branched& conical warty walled unicellular hair few non- glandular hairs Cortex Differentiated to parenchyma& Rounded thin walled parenchyma collenchyma except in the wings collenchyma Endodermis Form starch sheath Distinct showing casparian strips.  Hyoscyamus powder Lobelia powder Taste Bitter acrid taste Slight taste at first then it becomes, burning and acrid. Odour Slight narcotic odor Slight irritant odor Key 1. Twin prism 1. Stiff non-glandular unicellular, elements conical hairs 2. Branched glandular hair 2. laticiferous vessels of stem and 3. Clavate hair: glandular hair with leaves with dark brown granular content. (2) multicellular head and unicellular 3. Anomocytic stomata 4. Anisocytic stomata covered with smooth cuticle. (3) (4) (1) (3) (1) (2) Hyoscyamus Lobelia  Hyoscyamus Lobelia Active Tropane alkaloids mostly hyoscyamine, Proto alkaloids mostly constituents hyoscine and atropine. lobeline, lobelanine and lobelanidine. Inflatin (neutral principle). Lobelic acid, resin, gum and lipids. Chemical Mayer’s reagent: → yellowish white ppt. Lobeline + Marqui’s Vitali-Morin’s test (special chemical test) reagent → red color. tests Plant powder + dil. HCl → boil, evaporate → R. + fuming HNO3 + evaporate → yellow residue → + alc. KOH → violet color fades by time. Or evaporate 1 ml of alkaloidal solution to dryness, add 2 drops of Conc. HNO3, evaporate to dryness then cool, finally add 1 drop of 10% alc. KOH → violet color  Hyoscyamus Lobelia Uses Antispasmodic: relax the smooth Anti-asthma: relaxes the bronchial muscle of the GIT. muscles. Anti-asthma: relaxes the bronchial Expectorant muscles. Antismoking preparation: has Sedative: in case of insomnia and nicotine-like effect. mania due to its cerebral and spinal New blue born baby resuscitation sedative effect due to its hyoscine content. Eye mydriasis due to its atropine content so used as antidote to eserine and pilocarpine) Side Tachycardia Large doses will cause effects Dry mouth Vomiting Blurred vision due to mydriasis. Cardiovascular collapse  Hyoscyamus Lobelia http://www.northernlife.ca/uploadedImages/news/localNews/2014/01/060114_marijuana660.jpg http://www.chemistcounterdirect.co.uk/uploads/images_products_zoom/5012917021912.jpg Emmaus: The First Day  Catharanthus herb Herba Passiflora Name Herba Catharanthus, Vinca ‫ عشب الوينكا‬Passion flower ‫عشب أشجان‬ Botanical The dried whole plant of The dried flowering and fruiting origin Catharanthus roseus (Vinca rosea), tops of Passiflora incarnata Family: Apocynaceae. Family: Passifloraceae.  Catharanthus herb Herba Passiflora Active More than 150 different alkaloids are Indole Alkaloids (harmine constituents present. The most important are: and harmaline) Vincristine, vinblastine, vinrosidine & Flavonoids, coumarins vinleurosine. and stigmasterol Uses Anticancer, antineoplastic, antitumor, Antidepressant and cytotoxic. sedative in treatment of Two preparations are available in the insomnia, anxiety and market: nervous stress. Antispasmodic in Vinblastine sulphate: used for treatment dysmenorrhea. of Hodgkin’s disease (cancer of lymph In opium addiction. nodes) and breast cancer. Vincristine sulphate: used for treatment of leukemia in children, breast, brain and lung cancer.  Herb Containing Resin Cannabis Herb Syn.: Indian Hemp, Ganjah, Hashish, Marijuana, Bhang, Guaza. Origin: The dried flowering & fruiting tops of the cultivated female plants of Cannabis sativa Var. Indica Family Cannabinaceae. Why female plant? Because in plant, resin is found to be concentrated in glandular hair found in bract or bracteole which surrounds the ovary, but: In plant: the same A.C. (resin is spread in all the plant not concentrated in glandular hair. Morphology of Cannabis Cannabis occurs in green masses. The flowering tops consist of short stem, palmate leaf and the following parts. Bracts: Alternate, ovate, simple, each having two stipules in its axils. Bracteole: In pairs in the axil of each bract, ovate, encloses as flower or a fruit, boat shaped. Ovary: Unilocular, has 2 reddish – brown bifid papillosed stigma. Fruit: Achene. Papillosed stigma Flower Palmate leaf  Cannabis Herb Cannabis sativa is grown in temperate climates for its bast fibers (Hemp) used in manufacture of clothing & for its fruits known as ‘Hemp seeds’ used in food and chemicals. It is cultivated extensively in both temperate & tropical countries for its tops for use in medication. The more the temperate climate the less resin is found in the pistillate flowering tops of Cannabis. Varieties of Cannabis 1) Tropical conditions: Indian: > 20% resin. African: 15-20% resin (dusty green). 2) Temperate /cold conditions: Mexican: not more than 15% resin. American: 6% resin (bright green).  Genetic types of cannabis Hemp type Drug type Temperate conditions. Tropical conditions Little resin (contain Contain resin: THC****. cannabidiol, not THC***). Less narcotic action, long stem. High narcotic action, short stem. More fibers: large pericyclic + bast fibers Less, short fibers used in rope manufacture. More F.O. used in drying paints, cake for Less F.O cattle food. Types of narcotic cannabis There are 4 main types of narcotic cannabis products: ❑ Indian Hemp (Ganja): formed of 10% fruits, large leaves and stems, 20% or more of resin, This is prepared by rolling the wilted tops between the hands. a- Flat type (Bombay -ganja). b- Round type (Bengal-ganja). ❑ Hashish (Arabic) or Bhang: formed of large leaves & twigs that have flowering tops of both male & female plants that are dried and rolled in cigarettes. It is used in India for smoking, either with or without tobacco drugs as Opium or Datura to increase narcotic action. It may be taken in the form of paste made by digestion with melted butter (to dissolve resin) or melted paraffin (non polar) → straining (stem) → cool → semi-solid mass → dry → roll in cellophane (Hashish). Types of narcotic cannabis ❑ Churrus or Charras (South American): It is the crude resin obtained by rubbing the tops between hands, beating them on clothes or carpets. It is also obtained by natives who wear leather aprons walking among the growing plants →glandular hair fall & adhere to cloth→ scrapped off the cloth → +butter or by extraction of resin only (Cannabis oil) → compressed into balls or cakes. This is the most potent /most dangerous. Used as ingredient of smoking or mixed with butter ❑ Marijuana or Marihuana (North American): formed of the female inflorescence collected & dried; but are not compressed into masses. N.B.: Because it has less resin, so weakest narcotic action & no toxicity.  Powder of Cannabis herb Powdered Cannabis is dark green with a narcotic characteristic odor& no taste. Shows fragments of:- - Glandular hair with globular multicellular head of 8-16 radiating club- shaped cells and a long multicellular pluriseriate stalk called shaggy hair. - Leaf tissue with clusters of Ca oxalate. - Curved hairs with or without cystolith of Ca CO3. Glandular Shaggy hair Cystolith hair Active constituents of Cannabis Herb Indian cannabis yields 15-20% resin which contains over 60 compounds (Cannabinoids). The euphoric principals are cannabinol & ∆9 tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC). Oxidase enzyme which oxidizes the cannabinoids causing deterioration of the drug so it should be kept in tightly sealed containers. Chemical Tests of Cannabis Herb Special Chemical Test: Beam’s Test for tetrahydrocannabinol Shake Filterate Powder + petroleum benzene filter Alc. KOH Shake Amyl alcohol Violet red color Chemical Tests of Cannabis Herb 2) Fast blue salt B test: (detect cannabis in biological fluids & semi-combusted residue left after smoking). Spray di-o-anisidine tetrazolium chloride over F.P. wetted with pet. ether extract of cannabis → Red violet color. Mount: suspend sample in the reagent → examine under microscope → red violet in glandular hair. 3) Modified Beam's test: Powder + pet. ether → shake, filter → F. + alc. KOH → shake → + amyl alc. → mix well → Red color. 4) Effervescence test: Powder + HCl → eff. CO2  due to CaCO3 in cystolith hair (it is just confirmatory test, i.e. may give positive with others containing CaCO3). Action an uses of Cannabis Herb 1. It acts on the CNS stimulant, producing mental excitement (high) but in large doses will cause delirium & hallucinations. 2. Analgesic in neuralgia. 3. Narcotic but not addictive as morphine. 4.Sedative in cases of hysteria & mania. 5. Antitussive in case of spasmodic cough & asthma. 6. Recent studies showed cancer inhibiting effect of cannabinol & anti-inflammatory activity. 7. Relief of nausea & vomiting caused by chemotherapy. 8. It is also used to stimulate the appetite of AIDS patients  Large amount of cannabis In large doses it produces delirium with hallucinations followed by sleep interrupted by bad dreams, marked weakness, decrease blood pressure and may lea to death. Toxicity = abuse of cannabis (up dose) has biphasic clinical action: stimulation then depression Narcotic action of Cannabis  ‫باديات الزهر‬ Plant that reproduces by spores, without flowers or seeds  Algae Lichens ‫أشنيات‬ A lichen is a composite organism that arises from algae and/or cyanobacteria living among filaments of a fungus in a symbiotic relationship Thallophytes Fungi e.g. Ergot & Mushroom. Algae e.g. Fucus & Chondrus. Lichens e.g. Cetraria. Ephedra  Thallophytes Thallophytes are a group of organisms that are a division of the plant kingdom but are not differentiated into root, stem and leaves. Branching is dichotomous (apical type branching). They are lower form of plants that include bacteria, algae, fungi & lichens. Ergot is a fungus belonging to Ascomycetes.  Ergot Syn.: Secale Cornutum, Ergot of Rye. ‫نبات الشيلم‬ Origin: Ergot is the sclerotium of a fungus Clavicips purpurea, Family Claviceptaceae, developed in the ovary of the rye plant, Secale cereale, Family Gramineae. Hard structure is known as Sclerotium Life History: Ergot The rye plant becomes infected in spring by the ascospores of the fungus which carried by the wind or insects to the base of the young ovary where they germinate to form filamentous hyphae. The filament enter the wall of the ovary by enzymatic action & form a soft white mass over its surface called sphacelia which produces a yellowish saccharine secretion "honey dew", that attracts insects to carry the small oval conidiospores to other plants & spread the disease. During the sphacelia stage, the hyphae penetrates the ovary deeper, feeding on the ovarian tissue, finally replacing it & grows out to project from the rye as a dense core bearing at its apex the remains of sphacelia. This hard structure is known as the sclerotium. Non collected sclerotium falls to the ground & in the following spring germinates to produce stalked projections, known as stromata with globular head, in the surface of which are a large number of flask-shaped perithecia. Each perithecium contains several asci each of which contains 8 ascospores that carried by wind or insects to infect the flowering rye plant.  Life cycle of ergot A soft mass over the ovary’s surface (Sphacelia) produces honey dew Germinate to form filamentous hyphae The sclerotium germinates and forms stromata Stromata Perithecia Cultivation & Collection of ergot : Ergots are sown in boxes of sandy earth and are exposed to the winter frosts where they germinate to produce ascospores. The ascospores are cultivated upon a nutrient gelatin, where they germinate and large quantities of conidiospore-bearing cultures are produced. A suspension of conidiospores is sprayed on to the rye plants when they are flowering. The formed sclerotia are collected either by hand or after threshing the crop of rye. Macroscopical characters of ergot : The sclerotium is subcylindrical, elongated, fusiform, 3- or 4-sided and usually tapering towards both ends. The outer surface is dark violet-brown to nearly black with greyish coat and often longitudinally furrowed; sometimes the greyish-white remains of the sphacelia present at the apex. Ergot breaks with a short fracture & shows a whitish or pinkish-white central zone, usually exhibiting darker lines radiating from the center. The odor is characteristic, disagreeable but not rancid, being more evident on crushing and trituration with caustic alkali solutions. The taste is oily, disagreeable & characteristic. Powder of ergot: Color: greyish, blackish-grey to purplish brown. Odor: disagreeable. Taste: disagreeable & oily. It is characterized microscopically by the following: Numerous small unequal rounded cells with thin highly refractive chitinous walls. Abundant oily drops and protein matter. N.B: Vascular tissues, trichomes, starch & calcium oxalate are absent. Active constituents of ergot: The official ergot contain 0.2 % of total alkaloids (6 pairs of alkaloids are derivatives of lysergic acid). The water soluble alkaloids include one pair: 1- Ergometrine group which consists of: Ergometrine (ergonovine) & Ergometrinine. The water insoluble alkaloids are 5 pairs in 2 groups: 1- Ergotamine group which is formed of 2 pairs: ❖ Ergotamine & Ergotaminine. ❖ Ergosine & Ergosinine. 2- Ergotoxine group which is formed of 3 pairs: Ergocristine & Ergocristinine. Ergocryptine & Ergocryptinine. Ergocornine & Ergococorninine. Red coloring matter called sclererythrin. A yellow body secalonic acid, sterols (fungisterol & ergosterol) and about 3% of fats. The cell wall is chitinous. Chemical tests of ergot: 1-Test for chitin: Digest the sclerotic with conc. alkali solution at 100-180°C for about 30 minutes where chitin breaks down to chitosan & acetic acid. Wash the digested sclerotia with water, soak them in iodine water. Add to a piece of this treated chitosan, 10% H2SO4 where a deep violet coloration is given. 2-Test for Ergotoxine, Van Urk Test: Shake freshly prepared solution of p- dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (PDMAB) + FeCl3 in H2SO4 Blue color in Ergot solution +Na2CO3+ CHCL3 leave for 3 minutes the acid layer Chemical tests of ergot: 3- Test for sclererythrin (pigment) or detection of ergot in flour: Crushed ergot + ether Decant into another tube Reddish violet color is acidulated + dil H2SO4 given in the aqueous 1ml sat. sol. Na2CO3 & layer (due to pigment Shake sclerrythrin). Substitutes of ergot : Ergot grows on other graminaceous plants: Ergot of wheat: shorter, thicker & darker sclerotia. Ergot of oats: Black in color, up to 12 mm long. Factitious ergot: prepared by molding ordinary wheat dough and coloring them externally by clipping the dough into red ink and then into black ink. It can be distinguished by presence of wheat starch. Uses of ergot : 1. Ergometrine has stimulant action on plain muscles, especially of the uterus and is used to increase uterine contractions and to reduce postpartum hemorrhage; (oxytocic i.e. quick delivery). 2. Ergotamine group is used to relief migraine alone or with caffeine. 3. Ergotoxine group has antihypertensive action. 4. Ergosterol is used in synthesis of vitamin D. 5. Lysergic acid is used in synthesis of lysergic acid diethylamide (L.S.D.) which has potent phsycomimetic activity.  Side effects: Dependency syndrome characterized by severe chronic headache with an increase in headache intensity upon cessation of medication (ergotamine- rebound headache). Ergometrine causes rare hypertension attacks Contraindications: Ergometrine is contraindicated during pregnancy and during labor until the posterior shoulder of the newborn is free. Ergotamine is (cerebral & peripheral vasoconstrictor) contraindicated in occlusive vascular disease, arterial hypertension, coronary insufficiency and severe hepatic or renal insufficiency. Toxicity: Ergotism is the consequences caused after the ingestion of ergotized rye bread. Two forms of epidemic toxicity have been described: Q Gangrenous type (St. Antony’s Fire): characterized by sever pain of the extremities of the body followed by dry gangrene; sometimes ending with loss of the peripheral parts due to vasoconstriction of blood vessel. Q Nervous (convulsive) type: giving rise to paroxysmal, epileptic form or convulsions. Red Mushroom Syn.:Toxic British Mushrooms. Origin: Amanita muscaria, A.phalloides & A. pantherina. A.C.: Alkaloids e.g. ibotenic acid & muscimol and polysaccharides. Uses: 1. Anticancer. 2. Enhance immune system. Symptoms of toxicity: Nausea, diarrhea, delirium sometimes hallucination & coma. White Mushroom Syn.: Psychoactive (hallucinogenic) Mexican Mushrooms. Origin: Psilocybe mexicana A.C.: Alkaloids e.g. psilocybin & psilocin.  Algae Classification Pigment Reserve food material A- Chlorophyaceae Chlorophyll Starch (green algae) B- Cyanophyceae Chlorophyll and Phycocyanin Polysaccharides like (bluish green algae) (bluish pigment) gelatin in structure C- Chrysophyceae Xanthophyll and carotene Oily droplets (yellowish green algae) (yellow coloring matters) e.g. Purified Kieselguhr D- Phaeophyceae fucoxanthin Carbohydrates or fatty (brown algae) granules E- Rhodophyceae Phycoerythrin (red) Floridean starch (red algae) (Semi-amylopectin; classically without amylose)  Chrysophyceae (yellowish green algae) Kieselguhr, diatomite, diatomaceous, earth, infusorial earth Origin: It is a siliceous deposit; formed chiefly of the frustules and fragmentary debris of fossil diatoms-minute unicellular plants Family Bacillariaceae, a subdivision of the Algae Types There are two main groups of diatoms, named the pennate forma, which are elongated and the discoid forms which are usually circular or triangular. Constituents: Natural diatomite contains from 75 to 92 % of silica, aluminium oxide about 1-6%, calcium oxide, about 0.2-l.5%, magnesium oxide, about 0.3-1.5% and often some iron oxide varying from a mere trace to as much as 5.5%. The brownish-grey tint is due to the presence of oxide of iron. For pharmaceutical use, it should be incinerated to destroy all organic matter, washed with hydrochloric acid, then with water and dried. In this state it consists of practically pure silica. Uses: 1. Filtration of oils, fats, syrups and in the form of the Berkefeld filter for sterilization. 2. Highly purified material is used as inactive support in column, gas and thin layer chromatography. 3. Employed in face powders, pills, polishing powders and soaps. 4. Basis for disinfectant powders and for dentifrices containing Carbolic or boric acid. 5. Absorbs three times its weight of nitroglycerin and is used for that purpose in making dynamite. 6. Garden insecticide. 7. Filtering agent for swimming pools. 8. Industrially used in insulation bricks and' fireproof filing cabinet, used in paint, varnish, lacquer and polish industries.  Fucus Chondrus Cetraria (Phaeophyceae) (Rhodophyceae) (Lichen) Name (brown algae) (red algae) Syn. Bladder wrack Carrageen, Irish Moss Iceland Moss Origin Brown algae of Dried decolorized or bleached Dried foliaceous lichen Fucus vesiculosus red algae of Chondrus crispus, of Cetraria islandica, Family Fucaceae. Family Gigartinaceae Family Parmeliaceae Name Fucus Chondrus Cetraria N A.C. Mucilaginous Polysaccharide complexes Two complex substance called (carrageenins). No blue color with iodine. carbohydrates: Algin or fucin Some of those are extractable by cold Lichenin (about 40%) (calcium salt of water & not yielding jelly on cooling. dissolves in boiling alginic acid). The others are extractable by hot water water, producing stiff Alginic acid yields & yielding a stiff jelly on cooling. jelly on cooling & gives on hydrolysis D- These substances are the Calcium salts no blue color with mannuronic acid & of sulfuric acid esters where the organic iodine & Isolichenin L-glucuronic acid. part is a polysaccharide formed of (about 10%) dissolves Iodides, galactose, glucose, fructose and in cold water & gives chlorides & arabinose. blue color with iodine. bromides. Proteins (7 to 90%). Bitter crystalline Small amounts of iodides & bromides. substance cetrarin. Calcium, sodium & magnesium. Name Fucus Chondrus Cetraria Uses 1Tablet disintegrant 1. Emulsifying agent 1. Demulcent in 2. Aluminium alginate for oil preparations. stomach ulcer for stomach ulcer. 2. Tablet disintegrant. & gastritis. 3. Sodium alginate as a 3. Bulk laxative. 2. Bitter tonic. colloidal solution & used 4. Demulcent for as antidote for heavy coughs. N.B. A lichen is a metal poisoning. symbiotic 4. Calcium alginate used association of an as hemostatic agent algae and fungus. (forming clot) in dressing for burns. 5. Antiobesity by thyrotoxicosis.  Gymnosperm (Ephedra Herb) Origin: The dried young branches of Ephedra sinica F. Euphedraceae. Active constituents: 1- Alkaloid: Mainly composed of Ephedrine; its derivatives are (Pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine). 2- Flavonoid, Tannins, V.O. Action: -Sympathomimetic (Due to structural similarity to adrenaline). - Stimulate cardiac muscle - Bronchodilator (increase intensity of respiration). Uses: 1- Treatment of bronchial asthma. 2- As drops in nasal congestion as local constrictor (in common cold). 3- Hypertensive (or treatment of low blood pressure). 4- Wight loss Contraindication: 1.Hypertension. 2.Glaucoma. 3.Restlessness 4.Prostate Oedema. Side effect: Insomina & Irritability, Disturbance of urination. Overdose: Cardiac Arrhythmia. Bronchial asthma Nasal congestion