Page 331 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303
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Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D
longitudinally striated, hard and brittle; fractured surfaces somewhat conchoidal,
orange-red, waxy, and somewhat porous. When reduced to powder, it is yellowish
orange, odourless, and sternutatory, taste, very acrid.
Solubility
All particles slowly dissolve in chloral hydrate T.S., leaving few fragments of
vegetable tissue; soluble in alkali solutions giving an orange-red color; partially
soluble in alcohol.
Constituents
Resins (70-80%) known as “Gambogic acid” from which 15 xanthones
(phloroglucinol derivatives) were recently separated and identified as gambogic acid
(major, formerly known as garcinolic acid, gives red color with dil alkali
hydroxides), gambogenic acid gambogellic acid, gambogin, gambogenin,
isogambogenin, desoxy-gambogenin, gambogenin dimethyl acetal, morellic acid,
moreollic acid, isomorellin, isomoreollin B, desoxymorellin, morellin dimethyl
acetal and hanburin.
Gum (15-25%), of the acacia type as it is laevorotatory and contains oxidaze
enzyme.
Test for Identity
When gamboge is triturated with water, it yields a yellow emulsion which
becomes darker and almost transparent upon the addition of ammonium hydroxide.
The emulsion does not turn blue green upon the addition of iodine T.S.
Uses
Recently Gamboge was reported that it has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and
antipyretic activities. These activities were attributed to the inhibition of
prostaglandin biosynthesis, similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) rather than to steroidal drugs.
Gamboge has a potent cytotoxic activity against human embryonic lung
fibroblast (HEL) cell line. The cytotoxic activity was attributed to its xanthone
contents, particularly to desoxymorellin.
Gamboge is used as hydragogue cathartic (drastic purgative) in veterinary
medicine.
OLEO-RESINS
Resins are often associated with volatile oils in more or less homogenous
mixtures termed oleo-resins. These are, therefore. liquid or semi-liquid substances.
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