Page 188 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

transverse, circular slices about 3-8 cm. in diameter, and 0.5-I cm. thick,
pale grayish-brown, with several concentric rings and numerous pale resin
cells. It is less fibrous and lighter in color than Mexican Scammony. The drug
contains about 20 % of resin, about 6 %, of which is soluble in ether found 26.5
% of resin, of which petroleum spirit dissolved 3.7 %, benzene 5.3 %, ether 5.9
%, chloroform 19.55 %, and acetone 99.4 %; acid value 23.1; saponification
value, 141.6. Brazilian jalap. fluoresces in ultra-violet light with a yellowish-
brown color. The root of lpomoea purpurea Linn. (N. America) contains 4.8 %
of a purgative resin

BULBUS SCILLAE

Squill, Scilla, scilla Bulbus
Squill is the dried, sliced, fleshy scales of the bulb of Urginea maritima
(Linne) Baker (Urginea Scilla Steinh) (Fam. Liliaceae-Lilioideae), collected
shortly after withering of flowers and known as white Squill. Squill contains not
more than 2.0 per cent. of foreign organic matter.

The plant is indigenous to the countries bordering on the Mediterranean, and
frequently appearing in great abundance. The plant produces a large tunicate bulb,
often weighing 2 kg. or more, which lies partially embedded in the sandy ground.
White squill is collected largely in Sicily and Malta. The bulbus are lifted either in
the spring or towards the end of August, the fibrous roots are cut away and the
external thin scales are stripped of Three or four vertical incisions about l cm deep
are made across the base and three or four at right angles to these. The bulb is then

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