Page 80 - Pharmd general phytochemistry I-Final2024_LEUCTERS

More complicated aloin glycosides in cascara are :

Cascaroside A and Cascaroside
(two optical isomers of the 8-O-glucosides of barbaloin)

Cascaroside C and Cascaroside
(two optical isomers of the 8-O-glucoside of chrysaloin )

Cascaroside A and Cascaroside B: R = CH2OH
Cascaroside C and Cascaroside D: R = CH3

Further advantage of Cascarosides:
 Higher water solubility.
 Higher pharmacological activity.

Cascaroside A and B: Two optical isomers of the 8-O-glucosides of
Barbaloin.

Cascaroside C and D: Two optical isomers of the 8-O-glucoside of

Chrysaloin.

OH O OH O
O O OH HO O O OH
HO
OH OH OH OH

OH 10 R OH 10 R
OH HO
O O
OH OH
OH OH

Cascaroside A R = OH Cascaroside B R = OH
Cascaroside C R=H Cascaroside D R=H

Uses:
Anthracene glycosides are used as laxatives and cathartics.
Mechanism of action
•Stimulant laxative (they stimulate the large intestine smooth

muscles, improve peristalsis and cause soft evacuation by
decreasing water reabsorption).

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