Vegetable
Laxatives. Martindale�s 24th.
Part 5 of 5.
Compiled and edited by Ivor Hughes
Kaladana (B.P.C. 1949). Pharbitis Seeds.
Dose: 2 to 3 g. (30 to 45 grains).
Foreign Pharmacopoeias: In Chin., Ind., and Jap.
The dried seeds of the ivy-leaf morning-glory, Ipomcea hederacea (=Pharbitis
Nil) (Convolvulaceae), containing not less than 14% of alcohol (95%)-soluble
extractive. Uses.
Kaladana is a purgative with an action similar to jalap. It is used as an
equivalent of jalap in India and the Far East.
For detailed information and bibliography on kaladana, see H. C. Kassner, Pharm. J., i/1924, 155 to 359 (passim).
Compound Powder of Kaladana (Ind. P.). Pulv. Kalad. Co.
Kaladana 7, potassium acid tartrate 7 and ginger 1.
Dose: 4 to 6 g. (60 to 90 grains).
Kaladana Resin (B.P.C. 1923). Pharbitis Resin;
Pharbitisin.
Dose: 120 to 500 mg. (2 to 8
grains).
Foreign Pharmacopoeias: In Chin, and Jap.
A mixture of resins obtained by extraction of kaladana with alcohol. It
occurs as brownish, brittle, opaque fragments or as a brownish-grey or
yellowish-brown powder with an acrid taste. Almost insoluble in water;
soluble in alcohol; insoluble in benzene, chloroform, and ether.
Uses. It is used in India and the Far
East as an equivalent of jalap resin, which it closely resembles in action.
Turpeth (B.P.C. 1949). Indian Jalap; Tripolium; Turpeth
Root; Turbit. Dose: 3 to 5 g. (45 to
75 grains). Foreign Pharmacopoeias: In Chil., Fr., and Span. The
dried root and stem of Ipomcea turpethum (Convolvulaceae) containing not
less than 5% of resin.
Uses. It resembles jalap in its action
but is slower and less powerful.
Podophyllum (B.P.C.). Podoph.; Podophyllum Rhizome;
American Mandrake; May Apple Root.
Dose: 120 to 600 mg. (2 to 10
grains).
The dried rhizome and roots of Podophyllum peltatum (Berberidaceae),
containing not less than 4% of resin.
Foreign Pharmacopceias: In Belg., Span., and U.S. Span,
specifies not less than 3% of resin and U.S. not less than 4%.
Podophyllum (Ind. P.) is Indian Podophyllum.
Uses. It is
mainly used for the preparation of podophyllum resin.
Indian Podophyllum (B.P.C.). Podoph. Ind.; Indian
Podophyllum Rhizome; Podophyllum (Ind. P.).
Dose: 120 to 600 mg. (2 to 10
grains). The dried rhizome and roots of Podophyllum
hexandrum (Berberidaceae), containing not less than 8% of resin, not
identical with that from podophyllum. Uses.
It is mainly used for the preparation of podophyllum resin.
Podophyllum Resin (B.P.). Podoph. Res.; Podophyllin.
Dose: 15 to 60 mg. ( � to 1 grain).
A mixture of resins obtained either from podophyllum or from Indian
podophyllum. I.P. is from podophyllum only.
Foreign Pharmacopoeias: In Egyp. (as B.P.). In Belg., Chil., Dan.,
Fr., Ger., Hung., Jug., Nor., Pol., Span., Swed., Swiss, and U.S. (all
from podophyllum only). Ind. is from Indian
podophyllum only.
An amorphous powder, varying in colour from light brown to greenish-yellow or brownish-grey, with a characteristic odour and a bitter acrid taste. On exposure to light or to temperatures above 25� it becomes darker in colour. Insoluble in cold water; partly soluble in hot water but precipitated again on cooling; soluble completely or almost completely in alcohol; partly soluble in chloroform, ether, and Dilute Solution of Ammonia. Protect from light and moisture in a cool place.
Podophyllum resin prepared from P. peltatum contains a- and �-peltatins, and about 10% of podophyllotoxin; that from P. hexandrum contains no peltatins but the content of podophyllotoxin may be 30% or more.�S. C. Chakravarti and D. P. Chakraborty, J. Amer. pharm. Ass., Sci. Edn, 1954, 43, 614; W. Mitchell, Pharm. ]., i/1956, 138.
Caution. Podophyllum resin is very irritating to the eyes and requires careful handling.
Uses. Podophyllum resin is a drastic purgative with a slow action approximately proportional to the dose given. Small doses (up to 5 mg.) will produce copious soft stools within 12 to 24 hours without causing marked intestinal irritation. Larger doses may give rise to acute irritation of the stomach and intestines and to violent peristalsis. Pills containing the resin usually contain, in addition, extracts of hyoscyamus or belladonna, to counteract griping. The action of the resin is uncertain, and an amount causing mild action in one person may severely purge another.
When applied to the skin, podophyllum resin is a powerful irritant. As a paint (in liquid paraffin or Compound Tincture of Benzoin) it may be used to remove soft venereal warts and condylomata acuminata but care must be taken to avoid applying it to healthy tissue.
CONDYLOMATA ACUMINATA. The warts are first cleaned and a 25% suspension of podophyllin in mineral oil applied with a cotton-wool swab, the warts then being covered with a small piece of gauze. The warts are left untouched for 6 hours, and the podophyllin then removed by washing with soapy water and the area powdered with talc. Within 3 days there is a superficial desquamation which also removes the warts; at the end of a week there is no sign of either warts or reaction. The treatment is painless. A second application is sometimes necessary, and relapses which may occur are treated by the same method. The treatment is suitable only for soft warts.� per Abstr. World Med., 1947, 1, 60 and 177.
Seventy-five patients were treated with application of 25% podophyllin in compound benzoin tincture. Complete eradication of all lesions was obtained, 78% disappearing after one application. Only 2 lesions required more than 3 applications. The digitations of the verrucae must be spread to permit penetration but care must be taken not to penetrate to the base as oedema and discomfort would follow. Opposing surfaces must be kept separated until the preparation has thoroughly dried.� W. N. New and W. C. Marsh, Nov. med. Bull., Wash., 1948, 48, 831, per Amer. J. Pharm., 1949, 727,82.
Genital warts in 109 male patients were treated with podophyllin and the cases subsequently followed up. The warts were painted with 25% podophyllin in oil and the patients instructed to wash the area after 24 hours and then daily. Seventy patients were cured with one application, 11 with 2, and 8 with 3; 103 patients were finally cured.�S. Emanuel and T. K. Vanning, per Abstr. World Med., 1949, 5, 477.
Although the efficacy of podophyllin for anogenital warts has been established beyond doubt, local reactions are far from negligible. Equally reliable results can be obtained by the use of 3% podophyllin in propylene glycol, applied with an orange stick and cotton wool and followed by profuse powdering with talc. The procedure is repeated on subsequent days; it is seldom that more than 4 or 5 applications are required or that any discomfort is reported.�R. Scutt, Brit. med. J., ii/1954, 397.
SENILE KERATOSIS. After light curettage to remove the stratum corneum a solution containing podophyllin 25% and salicylic acid 20% in equal parts of acetone and alcohol (95%) is applied on a cotton-wool tipped applicator pressed on the area for 15 to 30 seconds. The treated area should not be washed for 12 hours. The crust which forms is peeled off after 2 weeks leaving a smooth surface with no evidence of scarring. Seborrhaeic warts may be treated in the same way.�A. F. Hall, Arch. Derm. Syph., Chicago, 1950, 62, 362, per Abstr. World Med., 1951, 9, 3
Paint of Podophyllin. Pig. Podoph. (N.F. 1955);
Podophyllum Paint.
Podophyllum resin 25% w/v in liquid paraffin. (Included in B.P.C. 1954
but deleted by 1957 Supplement.)
Pig. Podoph. Co. (B.N.F.). Podophyllin Compound Paint.
Podophyllum resin 8 gr., compound tincture of benzoin to 60 m.
Caution. This preparation is very
irritating to the eyes.
Pilulse Podophyllini (Dan. P.). Podophyllin
Pills.
Each contains podophyllin resin 30 mg. and dry extract of belladonna 10
mg.
Tinct. Podoph. (B.P.C. 1949). Tincture of Podophyllum.
Podophyllum resin 3.65 g., alcohol (90%) to 100 ml.
Dose: 0.3 to 1 ml. (5 to 15 minims).
In a dose of 2 to 4 drops in tea or coffee, taken night and
morning, it is useful in sick headache and biliousness. It may be given in
mixture form with Mucilage of Acacia as a suspending agent.
Tinct. Podoph. Ammon. (B.P.C. 1934). Ammoniated
Tincture of Podophyllum.
Podophyllum resin 2 g., aromatic spirit of ammonia to 100 ml. Miscible with
water.
Dose: 0.6 to 1.2 ml. (10 to 20 minims),
diluted, as a purgative.
PROPRIETARY PREPARATION CONTAINING
PODOPHYLLIN
Posalnlin (Camderi). Ointment containing
podophyllin 20% and salicylic acid 25 % in a fatty basis. For removal of
warts.
Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4.
