GLYCOSIDES

Prepared by Asma Manzoor

 GLYCOSIDE
• Definition
• Non-reducing sugars which on hydrolysis yield sugar part
(Glycone) and non-sugar part (Aglycone) are called
Glycosides.
• 1. Glycone
• Β-D-glucose is the most common sugar found in the
glycosides.
• Other sugar found in the glycosides are:
• Glucose
• Digitoxose
• Cymarose
• Rhamnose
• Aglycone
• It may be alcohol
• If glucose is present then glycoside is called
Glucoglycoside.
• Therapeutic effect of the glycosides is due to the aglycone
part.
• Glucose part is meant for to carry aglycone part to the site
of action where therapeutic action is required.
• Characteristics
• Colourless
• Odourless
• Crystalline in nature
• Soluble in water
• Insoluble in alcohol
• Bitter taste (except glycyrrhizin)
Glycerides have levo-rotatory polarity, may be present as
stereoisomers and both α and β are stereoisomers of each
other. In plants only β-form occurs.
• Chemical properties
• Chemically glycosides are Acetals in nature.
• In which hydrogen of sugar is condensed with
hydroxyl of non-sugar component.
• Secondary hydroxyl within the sugar molecule
is condensed to form an oxide ring.
• Thus they are considered as Acetals or Sugar
Ethers
• A large number of enzymes have been found in plants.
Many of these hydrolyse a single type of glycosides.
• Two enzymes hydrolyse a number of glycosides:
• 1. Emulsin (present in Almond)
• 2. Myrosin (present in Black Mustard seeds)
• Some enzymes are specific for glycosides, e.g.
Glycosides that are derivative of Rhamnose require a
specific enzyme known as Rhamnase.
• Linkage of glycone and aglycone
• 1. O-Glycosides
• Glycone and Aglycone part attach through Oxygen
• Digitalis
• Strophanthin
• 2. N- Glycosides
• Glycone and Aglycone part attach through Nitrogen
• Nucleosides
• 3. C-Glycosides
• Glycone and Aglycone part attach through Carbon
• Barbaloin (Aloe)
• 4. S-Glycosides
• Glycone and Aglycone part attach through Sulphur
• Isothiocynates (Black Mustard)
 CLASSIFICATION
• 1. Anthraquinone Glycosides
• i. Aloe
• ii. Senna
• iii. Cascara
• iv. Rhubarb
• v. Cochineal
• 2. Cardioactive Glycosides
• i. Digitalis
• ii. Strophantus
• iii. White squill
• 3. Saponin Glycosides
• i. Glycyrrhiza
• ii. Sarsaparilla
• 4. Cyanophore Glycosides
• i. Wild cherry
• 5. Isothiocynide Glycosides
• i. Black Mustard
• 6. Lactone Glycosides
• i. Cantharide (zoological origin)
• 7. Aldehyde Glycosides
• i. Vanilla
• 8. Miscellaneous Glycosides
• i. Gentian violet
• ii. Quassia
• iii. Dioscorea
 ANTHRAQUINONE GLYCOSIDE
• In plants number of glycosides whose Aglycone are
related to anthracine are present.
• These glycosides upon hydrolysis produce di, tri, or
tetra hydroxyl anthraquinous or modified of these
compounds so, they are called Anthraquinone Glycosides
• Most of them contain hydroxyl group
• Commonly present Aglycone in Anthraquinone
Glycosides are:
• 1. Chrysophanol
• 2. Emodin
• 3. Aloe-emodin
• 4. Rhein
• Mechanism of action
• These glycosides increase the tone of wall of
smooth muscles of colon.
• Increase the secretion of water and electrolytes in
the large intestine (cathartic & purgative action)
• When given orally hydrolysed in intestine and give
there action in 8-12 hours after administration.
• Indication
• Constipation
• Bowl evacuation before surgery or investigation
procedure.
• Disadvantages
• Habit develop (loss bowl function)
• Physical dependence
• Griping action
• Disturb bowl function
• Aloe, cascara & rhubarb is most drastic
• Senna & frangula is the drug of choice
 ALOE
• Synonyms
• Kanwar gandal, Barbados aloe, Curacao aloe.
• Varieties
• Barbados aloe(curacao), Cape aloe (Socotrine)
• Botanical Origin
• Aloe barbadensis (curacao aloe)
• Aloe vera
• Aloe ferox (cape aloe)
• Aloe spicata
• Aloe africana
• Aloe perryi (socotrine)
• Family
• Liliaceae
• Part Used
• Dried latex (juice) of the leaves.
• Habitat
• West indies, Africa, Pakistan, India.
• Collection
• Aloe is collected by making incision on the
succulent leaves.
• Placed the incised leaves in V-shaped container.
• The leaves are so inclined that latex touch with
the surface of container so, continuously oozing
out and collected.
• Evaporate in copper kettle
• When it becomes of proper consistency transfer
it into metal container and allowed to harder.
• Characteristics
• Occur as opaque mass
• Reddish black to brownish black in colour after
drying.
• Disagreeable odour
• Bitter & nauseatic taste.
• Chemical constituents
• Aloein-A & Aloein-B (major)
• Barbaloin & Isobarbaloin (minor)
• Aloe-emodin
• Chrysophanic acid
• Resinous materials
• Volatile oil
• Uses
• 1. Orally increases Intestinal motility.
• 2. Topically act as emollient, protective and antiseptic
• 3. Stimulant (Purgative in Trace & Evans, Cathartic in
Tyler)
• 4. Topically for skin burns, wounds, as sun block and
other skin preparations.
• 5. Wound healer in cosmetic and pharmaceutical
preparations
• 6. Aloe gel also acts as moisturizer.
• 7. Emmenagogue (to increase menstruation)
• 8. Vermifuge
• 9. As tonic
• “Contra-indicated in pregnancy”
 CASCARA
• Synonyms
• Sacred bark, Persian bark, Cascara buckthorn, Pursh buckthorn
• Botanical Origin
• Cascara sagrada
• Rhamnus purshiana
• Family
• Rhamnaceae
• Part Used
• Dried bark
• Habit & Habitat
• Tree (6-12m in height)
• Native: North America
• Cultivated: Oregon, West indie, Canada, Washington
• Chemical Constituents
• 1. “O” Glycosides(10-20%) e.g emodin.
• 2. “C” Glycosides(80-90%) which include;
• i. Cascaroside A & B(Derivatives of barbaloin )
• ii. Cascaroside C & D(derivatives of Chrysaloin)
• Uses
• 1. As purgative, laxative and cathartic.
• 2. Also used for habitual constipation.
• 3. For correction of tone of intestinal muscles.
• 4. Also used in veterinary.
• 5. Available as elixir, syrups and tablets.
 COCHINEAL
• Cochineal is actually dried female insect that is obtained from
the plant.
• Zoological Origin
• Coccus cacti
• Family
• Coccidae
• Part Used
• Dried female insect.
• Habit & Habitat
• The insects grow on various species of plant family Cactaceae
specially on Nopal plant.
• Native: Mexico, Peru
• Spread: Central & Southern America
• Introduce: West Indies, East Indies, Spain, Algeria, California
• Chemical Constituents
• Principle constituent is carminic acid (50%)
• Fats(10%). Wax(2%), ash(5%).
• Carmine is prepared from carminic acid.
• Uses
• 1. Colouring agent in food stuffs, drug
preparations.
• 2. In manufacturing of red and pink inks.
• 3. Also used as indicator.
 RHUBAB
• Synonyms
• Rheum rhizome, rhubab rhizome.
• Varieties:-
• A. Chinese Rhubab,
• B. Indian Rhubab.
• Botanical origin
• A. Chinese Rhubab:-
• Rheum officinale
• Rheum palmatum
• B. Indian Rhubab:-
• Rheum emodi
• Family
• Polygonaceae
• Part Used
• Dried roots and rhizomes
• Habit & Habitat
• Perennial herb
• Pakistan, Kashmir, Nepal, Tibet, China
• Collection
• 6-10 year old plant is dug off in autumn
• Roots and rhizomes are dried under sun or by
artificial heat
• Roots and rhizomes are cut into smaller
longitudinal pieces.
• Packed into wooden boxes with tinned lining
• Chemical constituents
• It contains a complex mixture of
anthroquinone glycosides that includes;
• A. Without -COOH group:-
• Chrysophanol, aloe-emodin, emodin.
• B. With -COOH group:-
• Rhein anthrone (major), gluco-rhein anthrone
and dianthrones (sennoside A & B)
• Palmidine A, B & C.
• Uses
• 1. Cathartic (drastic cathartic action)
• 2. Laxative
• 3. Purgation followed by astringent action
• 4. Stomachic
• 5. Anthelmintic
• Varieties
SENNA
• A. Alexandrian senna (Africa & Sudan).
• B. Tinnevelly senna (India & Pakistan).
• Botanical Origin
• Cassia acutifolia (Alex senna)
• Cassia angustifolia (Tenn senna)
• Family
• Leguminosae
• Part Used
• Dried leaves
• Habit & Habitat
• Annual shrub
• Egypt, Africa, Pakistan, India.
• Collection
• Plant is harvested in April & in September.
• Leaves are collected before the flowering season, by cutting the tops of
plant (upper branches)
• Leaves are separated from the stems & pods by Sieving.
• Then dried and graded.
• Chemical Constituents
• Sennosides A & B (rhein dianthorne)
• Sennosides C & D (rhein anthorne & aloe-emodin)
• Aloe-emodin diantrone
• Uses
• 1. Purgative for habitual constipation
• 2. Pharmaceutical laxative and cathartic
• 3. Stimulate the muscular coat of intestine
• 4. Widely used because less expensive.
 Cardioactive Glycosides
• There are many steroidal compounds present in plants,
exert powerful and highly specific action on cardiac
muscles.
• These compounds are occur as glycosides with sugar
attach at position 3 in steroidal nucleus.
• Mechanism of Action
• They increase the force of contraction of cardiac
muscles , giving the heart more time the rest between
the two contraction (systolic). It is therefore called
cardio-tonic or cardio-active glycosides.
• Therapeutic Use
• The compounds are used therapeutically to strengthen
the weakened heart, allowing it to function more
efficiently.
• Types of Aglycone
• Therapeutic activity depend upon the nature of
Aglycone & type & number of Aglycone present.
• For the optimum therapeutic activity of these
glycosides the steroidal ring must contain an
unsaturated Lactone ring at position 17.
• There are two types of Aglycone present:
• 1. Five membered Lactone (Cardenolides)
• 2. Six membered Lactone (Bufadienolides)
• Examples
• 1. Cardenolide is present in Digitalis &
Strophanthus
• 2. Bufadienolides is present in white squill
• Examples
• 1. Cardenolide is present in Digitalis &
Strophanthus
• 2. Bufadienolides is present in white squill
• DIGITALIS
• Botanical Origin
• Digitalis purpurea
• Digitalis lana
• Family
• Scrophulariaceae
• Part Used
• Dried leaves
• Habit & Habitat
• Digitalis purpurea: Biennial
• Digitalis lanata: Perennial
• Naturalized: Germany, Italy, US, Canada, Iraq,
India & Kashmir
• Collection
• Leaves are collected before the opening of
flowers
• Leaves are immediately dried at 60 oC to fix
the active constituents & to retain the green
colour of leaves.
• Drug is placed in air tight container.
• Should not contain more than 5% of
moisture.
• Chemical constituents
• Digitalis purpurea
Pupurea glycosides A Digitoxin + glucose

Digitoxigenin + 3 digitoxose
• Pupurea glycosides B Gitoxin + glucose

Gigitoxigenin + 3 digitoxose

• Glucogitaloxin Gitaloxin (acetylgroup at

position 16)
 Mechanism of Action

• It inhibits the Na+, K+-ATPase and increases

intracellular Ca+2
• Digitalis glycosides increase the force of
contraction of the heart without increasing
the oxygen consumption.
 Adverse Effects

• 1. Nausea
• 2. Vomiting
• 3. Marked weakness
• 4. Yellow vision
• 5. Blurred vision
• 6. Cardiac arrhythmia
 Uses

• 1. Cardio-tonic
• 2. Heart failure
• 3. Cardiac stimulant
• 4. Diuretics
• 5. Atrial fibrillation
• 6. Supraventricular arrhythmias
• Keller-Killiani Test
• This test is used to identify the cardio-active glycosides
• This test identify the digitoxose sugar
 STROPHANTHUS
• Botanical Origin

• Strophanthus kombe (Green)

• Strophanthur hispidus (Brown)
• Family
• Apocynaceae
• Part Used
• Dried ripe seeds
• Habit & Habitat
• Woody twiner or climbery shrub
• Native: Africa
• Cultivated: eastern & Western America
• Collection
• Fruits are collected in June & July when fully
ripened
• Epicarp & mesocarp of the fruit are removed
and seeds are allowed to dry in endocarp
• Green seeds are consider best because they
contain more active ingredients.
 Chemical Constituents
• The drug contain bitter glycosides that is strophanthin
(2-5%)
• It is actually mixture of three glycosides.
• Cymarin
• k-strophanthin β
• k-strophanthoside
• Other constituents are:
• Strophanthobiase
• Fixed oil 30%
• Proteins
• Nitrogen
• Uses
• Diuretics
• Heart failure
• Alternative to digitalis
 WHITE SQUILL
• Synonyms
• Scilla bulb
• Biological Origin
• Urginea maritime
• Urginea indica
• Family
• Liliaceae
• Part Used
• Inner fleshy scales of the bulb (swollen underground part)
• Habit & Habitat
• Plant is a Herb
• Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Algeria, Mexico & Asia
• Collection
• Bulb is like onion bulb.
• The outer scales and inner portion of the bulb is removed.
• Fleshy scales are cut into smaller pieces.
• Dried it under sun or by artificial heat.
• Chemical constituents
• Scillaren-A (amorphous glycosides)
• Scillaren-B
• Glucoscillaren-A
• Proscillaridin-A
• Scillaridin-A
• Uses
• 1. Diuretic (direct stimulating effect on kidney)
• 2. Expectorant
• 3. Cardiotonic (due to stimulating property)
• 4. Emetic (stimulant)
• Red squill
• It contains red pigments (anthocyanin) & β-
toxic glycosides (scilliroside)
• It is toxic to rodents (rodenticides)
• When rodents eat it, they emit it back and
died.
 Saponin Glycosides

• Surfactants
• Form colloidal solution with water
• Form foam upon shaking
• They form soapy solution (Saponin)
• They destroy red blood corpuscles by hemolysis especially for cold
blooded animals because they contain more cholesterol etc.
• It is also toxic for insects.
• It is also called as fish poison
• Bitter and acrid in taste
• Poisonous saponins generally be named as Sapotoxin.
• Aglycon in saponin glycosides is called as Sapogenin.
 GLYCYRRHIZA
• Synonyms
• Licorice root, liquorice, sweet wood, wood
mulathi.
• Botanical Origin
• Glycyrrhiza glabra
• Family
• Leguminosae
• Part Used
• Dried unpeeled Roots and Rhizomes
• Habit & Habitat
• Perennial Herb attaining height of 1m.
• Europe, Spain, France, Central Asia, Iran and
Iraq.
• Glandulifera: Russian variety
• Violaceae: Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and Iraq
• Cultivation and Collection
• Liquorice grow best in deep valleys, well-drained soil. In western
Europe liquorice is cultivated, but the “Russian” and “persian” drugs
are obtained from wild plants.
• They are usually propagated by replanting young pieces of stolon
but may be grown from seed.
• The underground organs are developed to a sufficient extent by
the end of 3rd or 4th year.
• Roots and rhizomes are collected in autumn when there is no fruits
born, thereby ensuring maximum sweetness of sap.
• Dried it in open air for 4-6 months.
• Wash and cut into smaller pieces and pack into Bales or Bandles.
• Chines blocks weighing 5 kg each are available.
• Chemical constituents
• 1- The main constituent is glycyrrhizin,(Na++,Ca++ salts
of glycyrrhizic acid) the sweet taste of glycyrrhiza is due
to it.
• 2- Hydroxy or triterpenoid acid.
• 3- Flavanoids; that are liquiritin, isoliquiritin,
liquritoside, isoliquritoside, rhamnoliquiritin &
isorhamnoliquritin. Yellow colour of glycyrrhiza is due
to these flavonoids.
• 4- Coumarin derivatives
• 5- Carbohydrates i.e. g
• Action and Uses
• Liquorice has long been employed in pharmacy as;
• - flavouring agent.
• - Demulcent.
• - Mild expectorant
• Liquorice extract is used in dermatological practice of peptic ulcer.
• The compound glycyrrhizic acid used for chronic viral hepatitis and
there is possible transaminase lowering effect.
• It inhibits Helicobacter pylori, is used as an aid for healing stomach
and duodenal ulcers and in moderate amount may soothe an upset
stomach.
• It can be used to treat ileitis , irritable bowel syndrome and crohn’s
disease as it is antispasmodic in bowels.
• It is used in Nephritis and Addison’s disease.
• Glycyrrhizin has been shown to modulate airway
constriction.
• Lung inflammation.
• Infiltration eosinophil’s in bronchial areas by
stimulating CD4 and CD8 immune cell function.
• Contraindications
• It cause the retention of fluid and sodium &
potassium depletion in the body.
• So, it is contraindicated in CHF and hypertension.
 SARSAPARILLA
• Sarsaparilla roots.
• Botanical Origin
• Smilax febrifuge
• Smilax regelii
• Family
• Liliaceae Or Smilaceae
• Part Used
• Dried roots and rhizomes
• Habit & Habitat
• Climbing wine or shrub.
• Mexico, Central America, Brazil, England & Ecuador.
• Collection
• Roots and rhizomes are collected when plant produced numerous roots
3m long
• Sufficient roots remain in the ground to resume its growth.
• Drug is dried under sun and tied into bales and bundles
• Characteristics
• Odour: odourless
• Taste: sweetish and acrid taste
• Constituents
• Smilacin
• Parillin
• Sarsaponin
• Smilagenin
• Aglycone: Sarsapogenin & isosarsapogenin
• Uses
• 1. Flavouring agent
• 2. Rheumatoid arthritis
• 3. Syphilis
• 4. Skin diseases like eczema & psoriasis
• 5. In the manufacturing of alcoholic and non-
alcoholic drinks
 Cyanophore Glycosides

• These glycosides upon hydrolysis yield

hydrogen cyanide therefore called
Cyanophore glycosides.
• The group is represented by Amygdalin,
which is found in bitter almonds, apricot
kernels, cherries & peach.
• Another group is Prunasin, which is found in
wild cherry.
 WILD CHERRY
• Botanical Origin
• Prunus serotina
• Family
• Rosaceae
• Part Used
• Dried bark of the plant
• Habit & Habitat
• Tall tree about 3 meter in height
• Grow in US & Canada
• Commercial supply come from Mississippi, Virginia &
North Carolina.
• Collection
• Bark is collected from the tree in autumn (contain high
concentration of prunasin)
• Bark is dried under sun.
• Kept in air tight container
• Constituents
• Prunasin
• Emulsin enzyme (Prunase + Amygdalase)
• Trimethylgalic acid
• Benzoic acid
• Tannin
• Resin volatile oil
• Uses
• 1. Flavouring agent in cough syrups to which it
give sedative property and pleasant taste.
• 2. Expectorant
• 3. Antitussive
 Isothiocyanate Glycosides
• BLACK MUSTARD
• Botanical Origin
• Brassica nigra
• Brassica juncea
• Brassica alba
• Meaning of Words
• Brassica: Cabbage
• Nigra: Night (black)
• Alba: White
• Juncea: Reed or Rush
• Family
• Cruciferae or Brassicaceae
• Part Used
• Dried ripe seeds
• Habit & Habitat
• Annual herb
• Brassica nigra: England & Europe
• Brassica juncea: India
• Collection
• Aerial part of the plant is cut after maturation.
• Seed are separated by thrashing and sieving
• Constituents
• Singrin (potassium myronate)
• Myrosin (myrosinase)
• Sinapine
• Fixed oil 30-40%
• Proteins 20%
• Alba variety contains no Singrin but Sinalbin
• Uses
• 1. Externally in the form of plasters, used as
rubeficient and vesicant.
• 2. Emetic in large doses
• 3. Stimulant and diuretic
• 4. Commercially used as condiments
 Lactone Glycosides
• CANTHARIDE
• Synonyms
• Russian fly
• Spanish fly
• Blistering fly
• Zoological Origin
• Cantharis vesicatoria
• Meaning of Words
• Cantharide is from latin word meaning beetle.
• Vesicatoria means vesicle producing.
• Family
• Meloidae
• Part Used
• Dried insect
• Collection
• Insects grown on the shrubs of family ''Caprifoliaceae'' or ''Oleaceae'' which are produced in central
or southern Europe.
• Mature insects are brilliant green in colour having metallic luster usually in June and July.
• Early in the morning insects become slugish with night cool air and are collected by shaking the
stems of shrub with pole.
• Collected on cloth
• Insects are killed by pluging into dilute vinegar or by fuming of hot vinegar or sulphur dioxide
fumes or chloroform or related drugs.
• Insects are dried carefully at 40 oC
• Packed into air tight container and few drops of carbon tetra chloride or chloroform is added to
prevent the attack of other insects.
• Constituents
• Cantharidin 0.6-1%
• Fats 12%
• Uric acid
• Fixed oil
• Formic acid
• Acetic acid
• Uses
• Irritant
• Rubeficient
• Desiccant
• Used for research purpose
 Aldehyde Glycosides
• VANILLA
• Synonyms
• Vanilla bean
• Mexican vanilla
• Botanical Origin
• Vanilla planifolia
• Vanilla tehitensis
• Family
• Orchidaceae
• Part Used
• Carefully cured (drying by the fermentation process) fully
grown unriped fruit.
• Habit & Habitat
• Plant is a climbing wine or epiphyte (which get food from other trees) grow on trunk of other trees. Native to
Mexico
• Cultivated in tropical countries (where temperature does not fall below 18 oC & high humidity)
• Collection
• Plant is propagated by means of cutting that reach at flowering stage after 2-3
years
• Flowers are hand pollinated to get the larger and better fruits.
• Fruits are collected after 6-10 months after pollination, when they attain the pale
yellow colour. When not fully grown they have green colour.
• Now cure the fruit by dipping in warm hot water (to stop vegetation)
• Then sweating occurs b/w the woollen blankets in the sun during the day and
keep it in wool covered boxes during night.
• Sweating initiate the enzymatic reaction to produce its characteristics colour and
aroma
• This curing process takes about 2 months and pods take on the characteristic
odour and colour.
• During drying the bitter constitutes are converted into required constituents.
• After curing pods loss its 70-80% of weight.
• Then these pods are packed into bundles and finally kept in air tight container.
• Constituents
• Vanilla contains 2 major glycosides;
• 1. Glucovanillin
• 2. Glucovanillic acid
• 1. Glucovanillin :-
• It is hydrolyzed by an enzyme during curing process into vanillin and glucose.
• Vanillin is the major constituent of vanilla.
• 2. Glucovanillic alcohol :-
• It is hydrolyzed to vanillic alcohol and glucose.
• Vanillic alcohol is further hydrolyzed into vanillic aldehyde (vanillin).
• In addition vanilla contain
• 10% sugar
• 10% fixed oils
• Resins
• Calcium oxalate crystals
• Isobutyric acid
• Caproic acid
• Anisaldehyde
• Eugenol
Uses :
1. Flavouring agent
2. In vanilla tincture
3. Freezing agent in dairy products, i.e. ice-creams, custard,
chocolate and gelatin
 Miscellaneous Glycosides
• GENTIAN
• Synonyms
• Yellow gentian
• Bitter root
• Botanical Origin
• Gentiana lutea
• Family
• Gentianaceae
• Part Used
• Dried roots and rhizomes
• Habit & Habitat
• It is the perennial herb
• Indigenous to Central and Southern Europe and Asia.
• Collection:
• Drug is collected in autumn
• Cut into smaller pieces of variable lengths
• More fleshier one are cut into longitudinal slices
• Then they are dried by two processes:
• 1. Quickly drying process
• In quickly drying process, drug is dried in sun but drug
contains the bitter constituents.
• 2. Slow drying process
• In the slow drying process the drug is dried in open air and
under shade and allow it to ferment. Due to the enzymatic
reaction the drug acquires aromatic properties.
• Constituents:
• It has some bitter constituents and also contains:
• 1. Gentiopicrin (major)
• 2. Gentiopicroside
• It contain two alkaloids:
• 1. Gentianine
• 2. Gentialutine
• It also contains yellow xanthin pigments, i.e.
• 1. Gentisin
• 2. Isogentisin
• It contains sugar that is:
• 1. Trisaccharide: Gentiatriose(insect)
• 2. Disaccharide: Gentiabiose
Uses
1. Bitter tonic
2. Increase appetite
 QUASSIA
• Synonyms
• Bitter wood
• Botanical Origin
• Picrasma excelsa
• Quassia amara
• Family
• Simaroubaceae
• Part Used
• Dried wood or stem of the plant
• Habit & Habitat
• Picrasma excels is a tall tree which is indigenous to West Indies.
• Quassia amara is a small tree or shrub which is indigenous to Brazil
or Guana.
• Collection
• The wood of the plant is collected in the form of chips or
cubes
• Then they are dried in artificial heat to prevent the growth
of mold which grows on moist and fresh wood.
• Constituents
• The wood contains bitter principle which is fifty times
bitterer than quinine.
• Bitter principles are
• 1. Quassin
• 2. Isoquiassin (picrasmin)
• 3. Neoquassian
Uses :

1. Bitter tonic
2. Enema for expulsion of
thread worm
3. Insecticide
4. Digestive
5. Stimulant
6. Anti-malarial
7. Emetic (irritant)
 DIOSCOREA
• Synonyms
• Wild yam
• Botanical Origin:
• Dioscorea villosa
• Family
• Dioscoreaceae
• Part Used
• Dried rhizome (mostly herbs)
• Habit & Habitat
• Plant is the perennial herb
• Native: Mexico
• Indigenous: North America, China, Nepal & India
• Constituents:
• It contains saponin like glycoside (Diosgenin 4-6%)
• Steroidal sapogenin & its glycosides, i.e. Smilagenin, Yammogenin
• It also contains acrid resin, starch 70% and calcium oxalate.
• Uses:
• 1. Preparation of progesterone
• 2. Treatment of genitory disorder
• 3. Diuretic
• 4. Expectorant
• 5. Bilious colic
• 6. Cheap source of carbohydrates food