Page 194 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

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

Powdered Calumba: 1,3, cork cells; 2, starch; 4, reticulate vessel;
5,9, sclereids; 6, pitted vessels;7, fibre & vessels; 8, parenchyma

Constituents
Calumba root contains three yellow crystalline alkaloids, columbamine,

jateorhizine and palmatine, and two colorless, crystalline, non-alkaloidal bitter
principles, columbin and chasmantherin. Columbin appears to be lactone, and
yields when treated with acid or alkali, yellow amorphous columbic acid,
previously believed to be a constituent of the root. Traces of a yellow fluores-cent
substance, also obtainable from columbin, are present in the drug.

There are also present mucilage and about 35 % of starch, but no tannin. The
drug yields from 4-7 % of ash.

Uses
Calumba is employed as a stomachic and bitter tonic.

Substitutes and Adulterants
Calumba rhizome. This is not infrequently present in small quantities and

occasionally to a considerable amount; the pieces are narrower (often about 2-3
cm. wide), deeper in color, more woody, and more conspicuously radiate; they
also yield more ash (12-17 %).

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