Vegetable
Laxatives. Martindale�s 24th.
Part 4 of 5.
Compiled and edited by Ivor Hughes
Euonymus (B.P.C.). Euonym.; Wahoo Bark; Fusain Noir Pourpre (Fr.P.).
The dried root-bark of Euonymus atropurpureus (Celastraceae).
Uses. Euonymus has a mild purgative and
choleretic action. It is usually administered as an extract in the form of
pills or tablets in association with other similarly acting drugs.
Ext. Euonym. (B.P.C. 1949). Extract of Euonymus; Euonymin; Brown Euonymin.
A dry alcoholic extract mixed with a quarter of its weight of calcium
phosphate to keep it as powder. Protect from moisture.
Dose: 60 to 120 mg. (1 to 2 grains).
Tinct. Euonym. (B.P.C. 1949).
Tincture of Euonymus. 1 in 5, prepared by percolation with alcohol
(45%).
Dose: 0.6 to 2.6 ml. (10 to 40 minims).
Gamboge (B.P.C. 1934). Cambogia; Gomme Gutte; Gutti; Gummigutt.
Dose: 30 to 120 mg. ( � to 2 grains). The
yellow gum-resin obtained from Garcinia hanburyi (Guttiferae). It occurs in
solid or hollow rolls or sticks (pipe gamboge) or in lumps or cakes. Foreign
Pharmacopoeias: In Belg., Fr., and Ger. Also in U.S.N.F. Gutti (Swiss
P.) is Indian gamboge, from G. morella.
Uses. A powerful and drastic hydragogue
purgative causing, in large doses, much irritation and griping. It is rarely
used alone and is almost always employed in small doses in conjunction with
other purgatives. It is an ingredient of Compound Mild Mercurous Chloride
Pills of the U.S.N.F.
Ipomoea (B.P.C.). Ipom.; Ipomcea Root; Orizaba Jalap Root; Mexican
Scammony Root; Scammony Root.
Dose: 0.3 to 1.2 g. (5 to 20 grains).
The dried root of Ipomosa orizabensis (Convolvulaceae), containing not less
than 12% of resin. Foreign Pharmacopoeias: In Fr. and Ind. Also in U.S.N.F.
which specifies not less than 15% of resin. Radix Scammoniae of Egyp.,
Span., and Swiss is Levant Scammony root, Convolvulus Scammoniae.
Uses. A drastic purgative, very similar
in its action to jalap. It is usually administered as Ipomcea Resin.
Ipomoea Resin (B.P.C.). Ipom. Res.; Mexican Scammony Resin; Scammony
Resin.
Dose: 30 to 200 mg. ( � to 3 grains). A
mixture of resins obtained from ipomoea. It occurs as brownish, translucent,
brittle fragments or as a pale brown powder with a characteristic fragrant
odour and an acrid taste. Foreign Pharmacopoeias: In Fr., Ind., and Mex.
Also in U.S.N.F.
Resina Scammoniae of Belg., Chil., and Span, is from Levant Scammony;
Egyp. is from either Levant or Mexican Scammony. Insoluble in water; soluble
in alcohol; partly soluble in ether.
Uses. A drastic purgative which may
cause nausea and vomiting and, in large doses, gastro-intestinal irritation
with congestion of the pelvic viscera. If absorption occurs it gives rise to
cystitis and nephritis. When prescribed in pills an equal weight of soap
should be added in the pill mass.
Pulv. Scammon. Co. (B.P.C. 1934). Compound Powder of Scammony.
Ipomoea resin 5, jalap 3.5, and ginger 1.5.
Dose: 0.6 to 1.2 g. (10 to 20 grains).
Jalap (B.P.C.). Jalapa; Jalap Root; Jalap Tuber; Vera Cruz Jalap;
Jalapenwurzel.
Foreign Pharmacopoeias: In Belg,, Chil., Cz., Dan., Egyp., Fr. Ger.,
Hung., Jap., Mex., Nor., Span., Swed., and Swiss. Also in U.S.N.F.
The dried tubercles of Ipomoea purga (= Exogonium purga) (Convolvulaceae),
containing not less than 10% of resin.
Uses. Jalap is a powerful purgative
producing copious watery stools. In large doses it causes griping and its
use should be avoided in the presence of gastric or intestinal inflammation.
Note. When jalap is prescribed, Prepared Jalap must be dispensed.
Prepared Jalap (B.P.C.). Jalap. Praep.; Pulvis Jalapae (Egyp. P.).
Jalap in fine powder adjusted with exhausted jalap or lactose to contain
10% of resin. Protect from moisture.
Dose: 0.3 to 1.2 g. (5 to 20 grains).
Conf. Jalap. (Westminster Hosp.). Confection of Jalap.
Powdered jalap 3 gr., senna leaf 3 gr., sublimed sulphur 3 gr., black
treacle to 60 gr.
Pulv. Jalap. Co. (B.P.C. 1949, Egyp. P.).
Compound Powder of Jalap. Prepared Jalap 3, potassium acid tartrate 6,
and ginger 1.
Dose: 0.6 to 4 g. (10 to 60 grains).
Tincture of Jalap (B.P.C. 1949).
Tinct. Jalap. Prepared by percolation with alcohol (70%) and adjusted to
contain 1.5 % of resin. It requires mucilage of acacia or tragacanth when
dispensed in mixtures, 1/8 of total volume.
Dose: 2 to 4 ml. (30 to 60 minims).
Tinct. Jalap. Co. (B.P.C. 1934). Compound Tincture of Jalap.
Prepared by percolating jalap 8 g., scammony resin 1.5 g., turpeth 1 g.,
"with alcohol (60%) to 100 ml.
Dose: 2 to 4 ml. (30 to 60 minims). Several pharmacopoeias include similar tinctures, some using ginger in place of turpeth.
Jalap Resin (B.P.C.). Jalap. Res.; Jalapenharz.
Dose: 60 to 300 mg. (1 to 5 grains).
Foreign Pharmacopoeias: In Belg., Cz., Egyp., Fr., Ger., Hung., Jap.,
Mex., Nor., Span., Swed., and Swiss. Also in U.S.N.F. A mixture
of glycosidal resins obtained by extraction of jalap with alcohol; it
contains not less than 85% ether-insoluble resin. It occurs as brownish,
translucent, brittle fragments or as a pale brown powder. Insoluble in
water; soluble in alcohol.
Uses. Jalap resin has purgative
properties similar to those of jalap, causing rapid evacuation of the bowel
in 4 to 6 hours, which is accompanied by considerable griping. It is usually
administered in pills or tablets.
Jalapin (B.P.C.).
Dose: 60 to 300 mg. (1 to 5 grains).
The decolorised ether-insoluble portion of jalap resin. It is a white
odourless powder with an acrid taste. Insoluble in water; soluble in
alcohol, glacial acetic acid, and ethyl acetate; slightly soluble in
chloroform; soluble, with decomposition, in alkalis; insoluble in benzene,
ether, and light petroleum. It should be distinguished from the substance
known in Germany as jalapin, which is the ether-soluble portion of jalap
resin.
Part1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 5.
