Nux vomica

Constituents:

These seeds contain 1.5–5% of alkaloids, chiefly strychnine

(about 1.2%) and brucine (about 1.6%) Strychnine is very toxic,

affecting the CNS and causing convulsions. This is a result of

binding to receptor sites in the spinal cord that normally

accommodate glycine. Fatal poisoning (consumption of about 100

mg by an adult) would lead to asphyxia following contraction of

the diaphragm.,

Rauwolfia

PHYSOSTIGMA: Calabar BeanBotanical: Physostigma venenosum SEED Family: N.O. LeguminosaeSynonyms: Ordeal Bean. Chop Nut.Physostigma venenosum (Leguminosae/Fabaceae) is a perennial woody climbing plantfound on the banks of streams in West Africa.The seeds are known as Calabar beans (fromCalabar, now part of Nigeria) and have aninteresting history in the native culture as anordeal poison. The accused was forced toswallow a potion of the ground seeds, and ifthe mixture was subsequently vomited, he/shewas judged innocent and set free. If the poisontook effect, the prisoner suffered progressiveparalysis and died from cardiac and respiratoryfailure. It is said that slow consumption allowsthe poison to take effect, whilst emesis isinduced by a rapid ingestion of the dose.

seeds are two or three together in dark brown pods about 6inches long and kidney-shaped thick, about 1 inch long, roundedends, roughish but a little polished, and have a long scar on theedge where adherent to the placenta. The seeds ripen at allseasons, but are best and most abundant during the rainyseason in Africa, June till September. The natives of Africaemploy the bean as an ordeal owing to its very poisonousqualities. They call it esere,.

Constituents: The chief constituent is the alkaloid physostigmine(eserine), with which are calabarines, eseridine, and eseramine.Eseridine is not employed medicinally. The seeds contain severalalkaloids (alkaloid content about 1.5%), the major one (up to0.3%) being physostigmine (eserine). The unusual pyrroloindolering system is also present in some of the minor alkaloids, e.g.eseramine whilst physovenine contains an undoubtedly relatedfuranoindole system. Another alkaloid, geneserine , is an artefactproduced by oxidation of physostigmine, incorporating oxygeninto the ring system, probably by formation of an N-oxide andring expansion. Solutions of physostigmine are not particularlystable in the presence of air and light, especially under alkalineconditions, oxidizing to a red quinone, rubeserine.

Medicinal Action and Uses: Chiefly used for diseases of the eye; it causesrapid contraction of the pupil and disturbed vision. Also used as a stimulant tothe unstriped muscles of the intestines in chronic constipation. Its action onthe circulation is to slow the pulse and raise blood-pressure; it depresses thecentral nervous system, causing muscular weakness; it has been employedinternally for its depressant action in epilepsy, cholera, etc., and givenhypodermically in acute tetanus. Physostigmine Salicylas is preferred for thepreparation of eyedrops.

Medicinal Action and Uses:Tonic, purgative, antiseptic. It is used in the form of a liquidextract, given as decoction, infusion or tincture, but generally asalt of the alkaloid Berberine is preferred.As a bitter stomachic tonic, it proves an excellent remedy fordyspepsia and functional derangement of the liver, regulatingthe digestive powers, and if given in larger doses, acting as amild purgative and removing constipation.It is used in all cases of jaundice, general debility andbiliousness, and for diarrhoea.

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