Oxytocics. Martindale's
24th.
Compiled by Ivor Hughes.
Vegetable
Oxytocics
Hydrastis
(B.P.C. 1949). Hydrast.; Golden Seal; Yellow
Root.
Dose:
0.6 to 2 g. (10 to 30 grains)
The dried rhizome and roots of golden seal, Hydrastis
canadensis (Ranunculaceae), containing not less than 1-5% of
hydrastine; it also contains the alkaloids berberine and canadine.
Foreign
Pharmacopoeias: In Belg., CM., Egyp.,
Fr
,,
Ger.
,
fug., Mex., Nor., Span., and Swiss Also in U.S.N.F. The
specified content of hydrastine varies from 1.5% to not less than 2-5%.
Mex.
and U.S.N.F. specify not less than 2-5% of anhydrous ether-soluble
alkaloids.
Egyp. And Swiss include a standardised
powder containing 2% hydrastine.
Uses:
Hydrastis
is said to increase the tone and contractions of the uterus and it has
been used to check uterine haemorrhage. For post partum haemorrhage
Hydrastis is of little value as an initial treatment but it may be given
after the haemorrhage has been controlled by ergometrine. It has also been
given as a bitter stomachic and to relive dysmenorrhoea.
Dry
Extract of Hydrastis (B.P.C.1949). Ext.
Hydrast. Sicce.; Extract
of Hydrastis. Hydrastin a dry alcoholic
extract adjusted with calcium phosphate to contain
5% w/w of hydrastine. Protect from moisture.
Dose:
30 to 120 mg. (� to 2 grains). Span. P. includes a dry extract containing
10% of hydrastine.
Ext.
Hydrast. Liq. (B.P.C. 1949). Liquid
Extract of Hydrastis; Hydrastis Fluidextract.
Prepared
by percolation with alcohol (60%) and adjusted to contain 2% w/v of
hydrastine.
Dose:
0.3 to 1 ml. (5 to 15 minims).
Chil. P., Egyp. P., Jug. P., Span. P., and
Swiss P. include a similar extract. Mex. P. and U.S.N.F. specify 2.5% w/v
of ether-soluble alkaloids.
Tinct.
Hydrast. (B.P.C. 1949). Tincture
of Hydrastis.
Liquid extract of Hydrastis 10 ml., alcohol
(60%) to 100 ml. It contains 0:2% w/v of hydrastine.
Dose:
2
to 4
ml. (30 to 60 minims). Fr. P. specifies 0.4% w/w of alkaloids.
PROPRIETARY PREPARATION CONTAINING HYDRASTINE
Liquor
Sedans (Parke, Davis).
A flavoured mixture containing in each fl. oz. the equivalent of 30 m. of
Hydrastis liquid extract (as hydrastine), black haw 60 gr., and Jamaica
dogwood 30 gr., with aromatics. A uterine sedative for
dysmenorrhoea.
Dose:
30 to 60 minims.
Raspberry
Leaf (B.P.C. 1949).
Rubi Idaei Folium.
(See fruit in image gallery)
The dried leaflets of
Rubus idaeus (Rosaceae).
It contains a principle, readily extracted with hot water, which relaxes
the smooth muscle of the uterus and intestine of some animals. Raspberry
tea is a traditional remedy for painful and profuse menstruation and for
use before and during confinement to make parturition easier and speedier.
The
dosage
which has been used is from 10 to 20 fl. oz. of a 5% infusion of the dried
leaves in hot water in wineglassful doses twice or thrice daily. The
infusion is also used as an astringent gargle.
A preliminary investigation of the active principles of raspberry leaf.�
A. H. Beckett et al, J. Pharm. Pharmacol, 1954, 6, 785.
Idanta
(Forsters Pharmaceuticals). Tablets each containing 150
mg. of powdered extract of raspberry leaf. In
spasmodic dysmenorrhoea, and for easy parturition.
Dose:
2 tablets every four hours commencing 24 hours before expected onset of
period or labour and continued for 24 hours after onset.
Viburnum
(B.P.C. 1949). Black Haw; Black Haw Bark;
Viburnum Bark; Viburnum Prunifolium (U.S.N.F.).
Dose:
1 to 2 g. (15 to 30 grains).
The dried root-bark of Viburnum prunifolium (Caprifolioaceae;),
containing not less than 14% of alcohol (70%)-soluble extractive.
Foreign Pharmacopoeias: In Chil., Cz., Fr.,
Mex., Span., and Swiss. Also in U.S.N.F. Span, and Swiss specify
stem-bark. Mex. and U.S.N.F. specify the bark of the root or stem of V.
prunifolium or V. rufidulum.
Uses.
Viburnum has been used in dysmenorrhoea and for its supposed sedative
effect on the uterus. A survey of the evidence
concerning the activity of Viburnum remedies and suggested methods for
evaluation.�R. A. Woodbury, Drug Standards, 1951, 19, 143.
Elix. Viburn. (B.P.C.1949).
Elixir of Viburnum; Elixir of Black Haw.
Liquid
extract of Viburnum 12-5 ml., compound tincture
of cardamom 7-5 ml., aromatic elixir to 100 ml.
Dose:
2 to 8
ml. (30 to 120 minims).
Elix.Viburn.et
Hydrast. (B.P.C. 1949).
Elixir of Viburnum and Hydrastis; Elixir of Black Haw and Hydrastis;
Compound Elixir of
Viburnum Prunifolium.
Liquid extract of Viburnum 50 ml., liquid extract of Hydrastis 8.33 ml.,
coriander oil 0.42 ml., caraway oil 0.42 ml., glycerin to 100 ml.
Dose:
2
to 4
ml. (30 to 60 minims).
Ext.
Viburn. (B.P.C. 1949). Extract
of Viburnum; Extract of Black Haw. A soft extract prepared by percolation
with alcohol (70%).
Dose:
200 to 500 mg. (3 to 8 grains).
Ext.
Viburn. Liq. (B.P.C. 1949). Liquid
Extract of Viburnum; Liquid Extract of Black Haw.
1 in 1; prepared by percolation with alcohol (70%).
Dose:
4
to 8
ml. (60 to 120 minims).
A
similar extract is included in Chil. P., Cz. P., Mex.
P., and Span. P.
Viburnum
Opulus (U.S.N.F.).
High-bush Cranberry Bark; True Cramp Bark.
Usual
dose:
4 g. (60 grains).
The
dried bark of Viburnum opulus var. americanum {=V. trilobum)
(Caprifolioaceae). Foreign Pharmacopeias: Pol. includes the dried bark of
V. opulus.
Uses.
Viburnum opulus has been used in conjunction with other drugs in the
treatment of functional uterine disorders, but evidence of its therapeutic
activity is conflicting.
See also: Ergot.
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