Page 93 - Pharmacognosy-I (02-06-06-102)

Test for identity:
1- Treat a little of powdered santonica with few drops of N/2
alcoholic potassium hydroxide, an orange-yellow colour is
produced.
2- Test for santonin (Quazibach test):
Powdered santonica (0.5 gm) was shaken with 5 ml benzene

for 4 min and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness in a
porcelain dish; 2-3 drops of sodium methoxide reagent was added
to the margin of the residue and the dish again warmed where a red
colour was produced.

3- Thin layer chromatography : (TLC)
Constituents:

The chief anthelminitic constituent of the drug is the
sesuiterpene lactone santonin. Worm seed also contains volatile oil
2% consisting mainly of cineol. It contains also a crystalline
lactone, artemisin related to santonin.

O
OO

Santonin

Uses:
Wormseed has been replaced by santonin which is very

efficient in its action on round worms (e.g. Ascaris). It has less
effect on thread worms but none on taenia.

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