Page 368 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303 (1)

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

Cantharides

Cantharides are the dried beetles Cantharis vesicatoria, family meloidae.

Cantharides are collected in Southern Russia, Romania, Italy, and Spain.

Collection and Insects are collected in June and July in early morning. Large
Preparations: cloths are spread under the trees, which are vigorously shaken.
The beetles are transferred to suitable containers and are
exposed to poisonous vapour such as chloroform, ammonia.
They are finally dried at a temperature below 40 °C.
Characters: The beetles are 12 to 20 mm long shining green or bronze,
green. The insect has a pair of wing cases, which protect a pair
of transparent wings. The chief regions of the insect are the head
to which attached a pair of long antennae.
Constituents: Cantharidin (Terpenoid acid anhydride)

Cantharidin is secreted by the male beetle and
transferred to the female one during mating.
Afterwards the female beetle covers its eggs
with this toxin as a defense against predators.

Uses: ▪ Externally, it acts as a rubefacient and counter irritant in:
✓ Hair preparations for treatment of hair fall.
✓ Plasters (in Muscle pain and Rheumatism).
▪ To remove warts and tattoos.
▪ To treat the small papules of Molluscum contagiosum

If Cantharidin is ingested by human males, it irritates the
UT leading to priapism, a painful penis erection which does

not related to sexual arousal.

302