Pharmacognocy

                                                                 XANTHAN GUM Xantham gum is a polysaccharide produced by certain species of bacteria. It is produced b pure fermentation of glucose using the bacterium named as Xanthomonascompestris, which is no toxic and non pathogenic to human beings. The high molecular weight (> 10000000) polysaccharide produced in culture broth is isolated by using isopropyl alcohol, which is dried and milled to give commercial Xanthan gum. Description Colour                       -  Cream coloured powder  Odour                       ...

TRAGACANTH Synonym                -           Gum Tragacanth, Tragacantha. Biological Source It is the dried gummy exudation obtained by incision from stems and branches of Astragalus identification tests gummiferLabill and other species of Astragalus, family Leguminosae. Geographical Source It is indigenous to Iran, Greece, Turkey, Iraq and Syria. In India, Garhwal, Kumaon and Central Punjab are the areas where few species of tragacanth are found. North Syria and Iran supply Persian tragacanth. Smyrna tragacanth is exported from Smyrna port in Asiatic Turkey. Uses 1.        It is used as a demulcent and as an emollient in Cosmetics 2.        Tragacanth is used as a thickening and suspending and as an emulsifying agent. 3.        It is used along with acacia as a suspending...

THEVETIA Synonym Yellow - oleander, Trumpet-flower, Lucky-nut tree. Biological Source These are the dried seeds of Thevetia - peruviana. Merrill syn. Thevetianerifolia, Juss. belonging to family Apocynaceae. Geographical Source  West Indies, Florida, Hawaii, America and also found throughout India. Uses Entire thevetia plant is very poisonous and the seeds are most poisonous. Tincture is cat emetic and febrifuge seeds are used as abortifacient and purgative in rhumatism and dropsy Peruvoside is used in treatment of mild cardiac insufficiency and weak heart. This drug shows relatively high degree of therapeutic index compared to digoxin.

STROPHANTHUS Synonyms - SeminoStrophanthi, Arrow poison. Biological Source These are the dried ripe seeds of Strophanthuskombe Oliver or of S. hispidus De Candolle ,belonging to family Apocynaceae. Geographical Source Strophanthus is a climber indigenous to regions near the Shire river, Nyanza and Tang lakes of Eastern tropical Africa. The tribals were using the extract of seeds as arrow poison. Uses  It is a Cardiotonic. The drug is mainly considered as a source of K-strophanthin. These glycosides have less cumulative effect otherwise similar in actions as that of digitalis. It is give parenterally, because of poor absorption by oral route.

                                                                 Starch Synonym Amylum Biological Source Starch consists of polysaccharide granules obtained from the grains of maize (Zea mays Linn.), rice (Oryzasativa Linn.); or wheat (Triticumaestivum Linn.); belonging to family Gramineae or from SerchoCCurs{ the tubers of potato (Solanumtuberosum Linn.), family Solanaceae. Geographical Source Most of tropical, as well as, subtropical Countries prepare starch Commercially. Preparation of Starch  Depending upon the raw material to be used for processing or type of the starch to be produced, different processes are used for the Commercial manufacture of starch. Potato Starch The potatoes are washed to remove the earthy matter. They are crushed or cut and converted into a slurry. Slurry is filtered t...

SENNA PODS Synonyms                  -   Senna legumes, Sennaefructus, Senna fruit. Biological Source Senna pods are the dried nearly ripe fruits of Cassia acutifoliaDelile (Alexandrian Senna pods ), and of C. angustifoliaVahl (Indian senna pods),' family-Leguminosae and should contain not less than 1.0 per cent of sennoside A and B on dried basis. Geographical Source Middle and upper Nile territories, tropical Africa and specially Sudan Uses Senna pods are used as a purgative due to anthraquinone derivatives. Pods do not contain mucilage and are easy to handle for the Commercial extraction of anthraquinone glycosides. Sennosides are extracted as their calcium salts. The pods are preferred to leaves, as they have less gripping action.

RHUBARB Synonyms -Radix rhei, Rheum, Revandchini. Biological Source Rhubarb Consists of the dried rhizome of Rheum emodi Wall (Indian rhubarb), Rhepalmatum Linn and Rheum webbianum Royal (Chinese-rhubarb), family Polygonaceae. It collected from 6 - 7 year old plants just before flowering season and marketed with Cortex intact as a partially decorticated. Geographical Source It is obtained both from wild and cultivated species grown in regions ranging from South ea China to Tibet and Korea. It is also obtained from Kashmir and Sikkim in India; and West Germa - Cons and other European Countries. Uses Rhubarb is used as a bitter stomachic, in the treatment of diarrhoea and as a purgative.

                                                             Pectin Pectin is a complex carbohydrate component found in nature in the middle lamella of plant cells. Chemically, pectin is a neutral methoxy ester of pectic acid. Pectins are polyuronides and consist of mixture of pectic substances like protopectin, pectin, pectinic acid and calcium pectate Ash They are obtained from the inner portion of the rind of citrus fruits or other vegetative matter, such Acid insolul as sun- flower, papaya etc. Pectin is a reversible Colloid i.e. it may be dissolved in water, Loss on dryi precipitated dried and redissolved, without altering its physical properties. Pectin, by addition of Microbial li water, forms the lumps which on heating convert into solution. The solution is clear to transmitted light and cloudy to reflected light. Under ce...

Mannitol Synonyms                              Manna sugar, D-mannitol. It is a hexahydric alcohol obtained by isolation from manna or sea weeds. It  can also beobtained chemically by reduction of mannose. It is a white, crystalline, odourless non hygroscopic and sweet powder. The crystals are  orthorhombic prisms. The melting point is 166-168C. It is freely soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol. Its specific gravity is 1.52, optically inactive or slightly laevorotatory. Uses :  1.        Mannitol is used as excipients for tablets, diluents for liquids, as stabiliser, thickener and nutritive sweetener, texturizing agent, nutrient and diagnostic agent. 2.        Mannitol does not get led to deactivate absorbed from gastro-intestinal tract...

                          MANNA  Biological Source It is saccharine exudation obtained from the stem of Fraxinusornus Linn. Oleaceae. Geographical Source It is small tree widely found in Mediterranean basin and Southern Europe. It is also reported in Spain and commercially cultivated in Sicily. Macroscopical Characters: Manna is available in the form of flakes. Colour    :               Yellowish-white Odour     :               Agreeable Taste      :               Sweet Size        :               Pieces of 10 - 15 to 2-3 cm Shape...

                              LOCUST BEAN GUM Synonyms Arobon; Carob gum, Ceratonia  Biological Source  This gum consists of endosperms of the seeds of Ceratonia siliqua Linn, family Leguminosae. Geographical Source The plant is found in Cyprus, Sicily and Egypt. It is cultivated easily but very sensitive to low temperature. It is produced in Spain, Greece, Algeria, Morocco, Israel, Italy and Portugal. Cultivation and Collection Carob is an evergreen tree growing to a height of about 10 metres and has luxuriant perennial foliage. The tree grows on rocky soil and has very long roots that penetrate up to 18 - 25 m and survive in an area where there is very little rain fall. It starts bearing fruits only after three years. The plants start flowering in January to March every year, and the fully matured fruits are ready by October-November. The fruits (pods) are h...

LIQUID GLUCOSE Synonyms   : Corn syrup, Starch syrup Source : It is purified concentrated aqueous solution of nutritive saccharides. Method of Preparation Liquid glucose is obtained by partial hydrolysis of edible starch or starchy substances by action of Hydrochloric acid. It is purified and concentrated aqueous solution of nutritive saccharides. The degree of hydrolysis of starch is measured as Dextrose equivalent, which is percent of Dextrose calculated on dry basis. Description It is highly viscous transparent liquid yellow coloured non-crystallizing liquid with slight characteristic smell and sweet taste. It is less sweet than sucrose. The viscosity of liquid glucose depends upon density, temperature and its Dextrose equivalent. It is soluble in water, glycerine and slightly soluble in alcohol. ldentification Liquid glucose differs from sucrose in the respect that it readily reduces Fehling's solution producing a red precipitate...

LACTOSE Synonyms Lactose has several Synomyms: Milk sugar, Lactose monohydrate, LactinSaccharumlactis, Lactosemonohydricum. Biological source Lactose is a natural disaccharide consisting of galactose and glucose and obtained from milk of most mammals. Uses 1.     Lactose is widely used as a filler or diluent in tablets, capsules, and infant feed formulae beside in dry powder inhalations 2.     It is used in Combination with sucrose to prepare sugar Coating Solutions (Approx. 1:3). .

ISAPGOL Synonyms lspaghula, lsabgul, Indian Psyllium, lsabgol. The origin of the word isapgol is form the Persian words ISAP (the horse) and GHOL (the ear). Thus, the literal meaning of word isapgol is the ear of the horse. The seeds and the husk of the seeds are used in medicine since eighteenth-century. About 10 species of the drugs are available in India. seeds are very small in size. One thousand seeds weigh about 01.5 g. Isapgol has high export potential. Biological Source lsapgol consists of dried seeds of the plant known as Plantago ovata (Syn: Plantagoindica; Plantagoafra) Forskal, family Plantaginaceae. In the pharmaceutical field, the seeds and the dried Seed Coats – known as isapgol husk – are used. Geographical Source  The plant is cultivated largely in Gujarat, Punjab and South Rajasthan. The factory for preparation of husk is located at Sidhpur in North Gujarat. In Maharashtra, it is found to be grown successfully near Pune. About 50 thousa...

INSULIN Synonyms : Hydrous inulin, alant starch, Dehlia. Biological Source It is a polysaccharide from the bulbs of Dehlia, Inulahelenium (Compositae), roots of Dendelion, Taraxacumofficinale, (Compositae). Burdock root, SaussurealappaCompositae) on chicory roots, Chichoriumintybus (Compositae). (1) Inula is the chief source and it contains 40-50 per cent of Inulin. To the test soluti (II) Inulin is present to the extent 20-50 per cent in these subterranean drugs . Geographical Source Inula is cultivated in Germany, France, and Belgium; chicory and dandelion in North America while Saussurea in India. Uses 1.     Used as diagnostic agent. 2.      In preparation of Culture media as fermentative identifying agent or certain bacteria. 3.     Manufacture of fructose by using an enzyme inulase. 4.     Ingredient of diabetic bread.

INDIAN SQUILL Synonyms   -Janglipyaz, Sea Onion, Scilla, Urginea. Biological Source - Urginea consists of dried slices of the bulbs of UrgineaindicaKunth, family Liliaceae. Geographical Source - It is found in India. It is grown on sea coasts including Konkan and Saurashtra and also in the dry hills of the lower Himalayas at an altitude of 1500 m. Cultivation and Collection  It is not cultivated, scientifically. However, it is observed that the herb needs sandy so mean annual temperature of 15°C. Bulbs can be raised from seeds and the plant acquires ful within 5 years. Generally, the distance between two rows of plants is about 75 cm. C agricultural practices followed are similar to that of the Common bulbs like garlic and onion. bulbs are collected after flowering in autumn. They are cleaned and cut into quarters which further sliced. It looses about 80 per cent of its weight when the sun-dried. The bulbs are finally packed in bags or barrel . Use...

INDIAN SENNA Synonyms Senna leaf, Sennae folium, Senai-ki-patti, Tinnevelleysenna, Cassia senna. Biological Source It consists of dried leaflets of Cassia angustifolia or Cassia Senna Vahl belonging to farLeguminosae. It contains not less than 1.0 per cent w/w of sennosides A and B calculated on dried basis. Geographical Source Indian Senna is cultivated and collected in India. Its cultivation is mainly done in Tinnevelly . Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Cultivation is attempted in Cudappa dis of Andhra Pradesh, and to some extent it is collected from Kutch in Gujarat State and Rajasthan. Uses 1.     Senna and its preparations are used as purgative in perpetual Constipation. The anthraquinone glycosides of Senna are absorbed first in intestinal tract after which the aglycone part is separated and excreted in Colon. These excreted anthraquinone irritate and stimulate the Colon thereby movements are increased due to loc...