Page 192 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

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

RADIX CALUMBAE

Calumba root, Colombo Root

Calumba root is obtained from Jateorhiza palmata Lamarek, Family
Menispermaceae, a lofty climbing plant with annual herbaceous stems and swollen
fleshy roots. It is indigenous to Portuguese, East Africa, growing in abundance in
the forest in the region of the Zambesi. The root is much used by the natives as a
remedy for dysentery and other diseases, and on account of the yellow coloring
matter it contains. It was brought to Europe towards the end of the seventeenth
century, and after being long neglected came at last into general use.

The roots are dug in the dry season, March, cut into transverse slices, and to a
less extent into oblique and longitudinal slices, and dried in the shade. The drug as
imported is known as "natural" calumba; it is dingy brown in color owing to the
presence of powdery soil on its surface. It is cleaned by washing and brushing, and
is then graded for sale, being now termed "washed" calumba root.

Macroscopical Characters
Calumba root occurs in commerce mostly in irregular elliptical or nearly

circular slices about 3-8 cm. in diameter and 6-12 mm. in thickness, they are usually
depressed in the center on both sides; a small proportion consisting of slices cut
longitudinally are sub-rectangular and are about 7-10 cm. long and 2.5-5 cm. wide.
The outer surface is longitudinally grooved and is covered by a thin, wrinkled, dark
brownish-grey layer of cork. The smoothed transverse surface has a greenish-
yellow ground in which are embedded greenish-yellow groups of xylem vessels
arranged in interrupted radial lines, the xylem is surrounded by a dark cambium line
dividing it from the yellowish dark, about 3-5 mm. wide in which the phloem sieve-
tissue is evident as darker grey radiating lines, each continuing one of the line of

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