DRUGS CONTAINING GLYCOSIDES

GLYCOSIDE
 a.k.a. sugar ethers
Glycon – sugar content
-can consist of a single sugar group (monosaccharide) or several sugar groups
(oligosaccharide).
-Aglycon or genin part of the glycoside – non sugar component
 Is any molecule in which a sugar group is bounded through its anomeric carbon to
another group via glycosidic bond.
 The sugar found in glycosides maybe glucose, rhamnose (mono) or rarely deoxysugar
(cymarose- found in cardiac glycoside).
 The term glycoside is a very general which embraces all the many and varied
Combinations of sugar and aglycons.

PROPERTIES:

1. They are crystalline or amorphous substances that are soluble in water or alcohols.
2. Insoluble in organic solvents like benzene and ether.
3. The aglycone part is soluble in organic solvents like benzene or ether.
4. They are hydrolysed by water, enzymes, and mineral acids.
5. They are optically active.

CLASSIFICATION: Can be classified as:

1. On the Basis of Glycon

 If the glycon group of a glycoside is glucose (glucoside)
 Fructose (fructoside)
 Glucuronic acid (glucuronide)

2. On the basis of Glycosidic Linkage

A. O-glycosides – sugar molecule is combined with phenol or OH- group of aglycon.

e.g. amygdaline, Arbutin, Salicin, cardiac glycosides, ect.

B. N-glycosides - sugar molecule is combined with N in the NH- (amino group) of aglycone.
(ex. Nucleosides)

C. S-glycosides – sugar molecule is combined with the S or SH (thiol group) of aglycon.

(ex. Sinigrin)

D. C- glycosides - the sugar molecule is directly attached to the C- atom of aglycon.

(ex. Anthraquinone glycoside like alloin, barbaloin, cascaroside).

3. On the basis of aglycone

Class Example
1. Anthraquinone glycoside Senna, aloe, ect.
2. Sterol and cardiac glycoside Digitalis, Squill, ect.
3. Saponin glycoside Dioscorea, licorice, ginseng, ect.
4. Cyanogenetic and cyanophoric Bitter almond, wild chery bark
5. Thiocynate and Isothiocynate glycoside Black mustard
6. Flavone glycoside Gingko
7. Aldehyde glycoside Vanilla
8. Phenol glycoside Bearberry
9. Steroidal glycoside Solanum
10. Bitter and Misc. glycoside Gentian, Picrrohiza, chirata, ect

CHEMICAL TEST OF GLYCOSIDES

I. TEST FOR ANTHRAQUINONE GLYCOSIDE

1. Borntrager’s test
2. Modified Bortrager’s test

II. TEST FOR SAPONIN GLYCOSIDES

1. Haemolysis test
2. Foam test

III. TEST FOR STEROID AND TRITERPENOID

1. Libermann Burchard test
2. Salkowaski test
3. Antimony trichloride test
4. Trichloro acetic acid test
5. Tetranitromethane test
6. Zimmermann test

IV. TEST FOR CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES

1. Keller-kiliani test
2. Legal test
3. Baljet test
4. 3,5 dinitro benzoic acid test
V. TEST FOR COUMARIN GLYCOSIDES
1. FECl3 test
2. Flourescence test

VI. TEST FOR CYANOPHORIC GLYCOSIDE

1. Sodium picrate test

VII. TEST FOR FLAVONOID GLYCOSIDE

1. Ammonia test
2. Shinoda test
3. Vanillin HCl test

GLYCOSIDES FAMILIES

I. ANTHRACENE GLYCOSIDES

1. SENNA LEAF ( syn: Alexandrian senna, Tinnevelly senna, folia senna)

 Dried leaflets of Cassia acutifolia Deleli and S. angustifolia Vahl.
Cons: Sennosides A and B 2.5%
Uses:
1. Leaves are laxative
2. Prescribed with carminatives
3. Stimulant
4. Cathartic
5. Increase tone of muscle in the large intestine

2. ALOE -is the dried juice collected by incision, from the bases of the leaves of various
species of aloe. Aloe perryi, A. vera, A. barbadensis Mil. A. ferox Miller.

Aloe barbadensis
Cons: crystalline Aloins 30%
ß-barbaloin
Isobarbaloin
Isomer aloins
Amorphous aloin, resin, emodin, and aloe -emodin
Barbaloin (present in all varieties)

Uses:
1. Purgative
2. In higher doses may act as abortifacient
3. Vermifuge
4. Emmenagogue
5. Emollient
6. Stimulant
7. Stomachic
8. Tonic
9. Vulnerary
10. Extract is antibacterial
11. Clear gel of the leaf makes an excellent treatment for wounds, burns and other skin
disorder.
12. Speeding rate of healing and reducing the risk of infection.
13. Give soothing effect on all sort of burns and other skin problems.

3. RHUBARB (syn: East indian rhubarb, China rhubarb, turkey rhubarb)

 Peeled dried rhizomes and roots of Rheum palmatum Linn.
Cons: anthrones
Dianthrones
Heterodianthrones
Other Rhubarb: R. Webbianum, R. emodi
Uses:
1. Cathartic (relatively drastic)

4. CASCARA BARK (syn: Cascara sagrada, sacred bark, Buckthorn, chittem bark)
 Dried bark of Rhamnus purshiana DC.
Cons: Aloin
Barbaloin
Uses:
1. Gentle Laxative
2. Useful in chronic constipation
3. The bark has tonic properties, promoting gastric digestion and appetite
4. Taken internally in the treatment of digestive complains, hemorrhoids, liver
problems and jaundice
II. STEROL OR CARDIAC GLYCOSIDE

1. DIGITALIS LEAVES (syn: digitalis, purple foxglove, finger flower, lady’s glove,
foxglove leaves, folia digitalis)
 Dried leaves of Digitalis purpurae linne
Cons:
Foxglove Grecian foxglove (D. lanata)
Gitoxin Digoxin
Gitalotoxin Des acetyl lanatoside (deslanoside)

Uses:
1. foxglove is a widely used herbal medicine with a recognized stimulatory effect upon
the heart
2. used in allopathic medicine in the treatment of heart complaints
3. profound tonic effect upon a diseased heart, enabling the heart to beat more
slowly, powerfully, and regularly without requiring more oxygen
4. it stimulates the flow of urine which lowers the volume of the blood and lessens the
load on the heart.
5. Employed in the treatment of internal hemmorage, in inflammatory diseases, in
delirium tremens, in epilepsy, in acute mania and various other diseases
6. Digitalis has a commulative effect in the body, so the dose has to decided very
carefully.
1.1(Grecian Foxglove)
 Consists of the dried leaves of Digitalis lanata J.F.Ehrh
Cons: Lanatoside A, B,C, and E
Uses;
1. Commercial source of digoxin
2. Employed in the treatment of auricular fibrillation and congestive heart failure
Adverse reaction:
1. Nausea
2. Vomiting
3. Slow pulse
4. Visual disturbance
5. Anorexia
6. Fainting

2. THEVETIA (syn: yellow oleander, lucky nut tree, trumphet flower)

 Dried seeds of Thevetia nerifolia Juss.
Cons: Thevetin A and B – Cerebroside (cardiac glycoside)
 Peruvoside
Nerrifolin
Thevenenin
Uses:
1. roots of this plant are made into a paste and applied to tumors.
2. Seeds are used in the treatment of rheumatism, dropsy
3. Abortifacient and purgative
3. SQUILL (syn: Scillae bulbus, squill, Scilla bulb, white squill, European scilla, Urginea
scilla, Drimia maritime)
 Dried slices of the bulb of white variety of Urginea maritima Linn.
Cons: Bufadienolides type ( scillaren A and B)
Uses:
1. largely used for its stimulating, expectorant and diuretic properties
2. cardiactonic
3. slowing and strengthening the pulse
4. most useful in chronic bronchitis, catarrhal affections and asthma
5. Potential substitute for foxglove in aiding a failing heart.
4. RED SQUILL – from the bulb of Urginea maritime (red variety) because of anthocyanin
Cons: Scilliroside
Note: no difference medicinal properties between white and red Squill

5. INDIAN SQUILL (syn: sea onion, Urginia, jangli pyaj)

 From the dried slices of the bulb Urginea indica kunth
 Contain cardiac glycoside similar to European squill.
 Mucilage is present in mesophyll cells.
Uses;
1. Cardiotonic
2. Expectorant
3. Stimulant
4. Diuretic
5. Cathartic
6. Broncho dilator and anti cancer agent

6. STROPHANTHUS (syn: kombe seeds, strophanti semina, semen strophanti, strophantus

seeds).
 Dried ripe seeds of Strophanthus kombe oliv.
Cons: K-strophanthin
Uses:
1. strophantus in medicine is for its influence on circulation, especially in cases of
chronic heart weakness.
2. Often useful as alternative of digitalis
3. Has greater diuretic power
7. OLEANDER – It consist of the dried seeds and leaves of Nerium indicum Linn.
Cons: Oleandrin
Gitoxigenin
Neridiginoside
Adynerigenin
Terpenoids
Sterols
Tanins
Essential oil
Uses:
1. Leaves are used in cutaneous eruption
2. The paste of the root is applied externally in hemorrhoids and ulcerations

t
III. SAPONIN GLYCOSIDES
 Saponis are glycoside compounds often referred to as “Natural Detergent” because
of their foamy texture.
 The aglycone is referred to as the sapogenin and steroid saponins are called
sarsaponins
 Saponins are bitter and reduce the palatability of livestock feeds

1. DIOSCOREA (syn: Yam)

 Dried rhizome of several species of Dioscorea like D. villosa, D. prazeri, D.
composite, D. spiculiflora, D. deltoidea, D. floribunda
Cons: roots contain Diosgenin
Smilagenin
Epismelagenin
Yammogenin
Starch 75%
Uses:
1. Main source of diosgenin
2. Widely used in modern medicine in order to manufacture progesterone and other
steroid drugs
3. This are used as contraceptives and in the treatment of various disorders of the
genitary organs as well as in a host of other diseases such as asthma and arthritis.

2. LIQUORICE (syn: Radix glycyrrhizae, sweet liquorice)

 Subterranean peeled and unpeeled stolon, roots, subterranean stems of Glycyrrhiza
glabra Linn.
  Glycyricin is obtainable in the form of a sweet, which is 50 times sweeter than
sucrose, white crystalline powder, consisting of the calcium and potassium salts of
glycynhizic acid
Cons: Chief constituent Glycyrrhizin 6-8%
Glycyrhizic acid
Glycyrrinic in hydrolysis yields glycerrhetic or glycerrhetinic acid
Uses:
1. Glycyrrhiza is widely used as sweetening agent and in bronchial problems such as
catarrah, bronchitis, cold, flu and cough
2. Reduces irritation of the throat and yet has an expectorant action
3. Produces its demulcent and expectorant effect
4. It used in relieving stress
5. Potent healing agent for tuberculosis
6. Also effective in helping to reduce fever (glycyrretinic acid has an effect like
aspirin)
7. Antibacterial
8. Used in the treatment of chronic inflammations such as arthritis and rheumatic
disease, chronic skin condition, and auto immune diseases in general.
9. Externally, the root is used in the treatment of herpes, eczema, and shingles
Precautions:
1. Should be used in moderation and should not be prescribed for pregnant women or
people with high blood pressure, kidney disease, or taking digoxin-based medication
2. Prolonged usage raises the blood pressure and causes water retention

3. SHATAVARI (syn: Asparagus)

 Dried tuberous roots of Asparagus racemosus Willd.
Cons: Shatavarin I-IV
Sarsapogenin (aglycone unit)
Uses:
1. The root is alterative, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, demulcent, diuretic, galactagogue
and refrigerant
2. Internally, used in treatment of infertility, loss of libido, threatened miscarriage,
menopausal problems, hyperacidity, stomach ulcers
3. Eternally, it is used to treat stiffness in the joints.
4. The root is used fresh in the treatment of dysentery

4. BRAHMI (syn: Indian pennywort, mangosteen)

 Is the fresh or dried herb of Centella asiatica
Cons: Triterpenoid - indocentelloside
Brahmoside
Brahminoside
Asiaticoside
 Thankuniside
Isothankuniside
Trirerpine acids – indocentoic
Brahmic
Asiatic
Thankunic
Isothankunic
Others: Mesoinositol centellose, kaempferol, quercitin, stigmasterol
Uses:
1. the plant is used as tonic, in disease of skin, nerves, blood, and also to improve
memory
2. it also strengthens the immune system
3. asiaticosides stimulates the reticuloendothelial system where new blood cells are
formed and old ones destroyed, fatty materials are stored, iron is metabolized, and
immune responses and inflammation occur or begin
4. centella also increases keratinization.
5. asiaticoside also stimulate the synthesis of lipids and proteins necessary for
healthy skin.
6. Centella strengthen veins by repairing the connective tissues surrounding veins and
decreasing the capillary fragility.
5. GINSENG (syn: panax, Asiatic ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Ginseng root, pannag, Ninjin).
 Dried roots of Panax ginseng. C. A mey and other species of Panax japonicus
(Japanese ginseng), Panax pseudoginseng( Himalayan Ginseng), P. quinquefolius
( American ginseng), p. trifolius (dwarf Ginseng), P. vietnamensis (Vietnamese
ginseng).
Cons: Ginsenoside
Panxosides
Chikusetsosaponin
Starch
Gum
Some resin
Very small amount of volatile oil
Uses:
1. the root is adaptogen, alterative, carminative, demulcent, emetic, expectorant,
stimulant and tonic
2. ginsenocides have both stimulary and inhibitory effects on the CNS alter
cardiovascular tone, increase humoral and cellular-dependent immunity, and may
inhibit the growth of cancer in vitro
3. encourages the secretion of hormones, improve stamina, lower blood sugar, and
cholesterol levels.
4. Used internally in the treatment of debility associated with old age or illness, lack
of appetite, insomnia, stress, shock and chronic illness.
Precautions:
1. ginseng is not normally prescribed for pregnant women, or for patients under the
age of 40, or those with depression, acute anxiety or inflammatory disease
2. it is normally only taken for a period of 3 weeks excess can cause headaches,
restlessness, raised blood pressure, and other side effects, specially if it is taken
with caffeine, alcohol, turnips, and bitter or spicy foods.
6. SENEGA (syn: Snake root, senegae radix, Seneca, milkwort, mountain flax, rattlesnake
root, radix senegae, senega root).
 Dried roots and rootstocks of Polygala senega Linn.
Cons: senegin
Uses:
1. The root promotes the clearing of phlegm from the bronchial tubes
2. It is antidote, cathartic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, sialagogue, and
stimulant
3. Used by the north American Indians in the treatment of snake bites.
4. Used in the treatment of various respiratory problems including pleurisy an
pneumonia

7. QUILLAIA (syn: soap bark, quillary bark, panama wood, murillo bark, Cortex quillaiae).
 From the inner dried bark of Quillaia saponaria Molina.
Cons: Quillaic acid
Saponin 10%
Calcium oxalate
Starch
Sucrose
Tannin
Quillaic acid (from hydrolysis of quillaia saponin)
Uses:
1. Quillaia bark is used as emulsifying agent, coal tar emulsion, cleaning industrial
equipment, washing delicate fabrics, to prepare tooth powders, tooth paste, hair
shampoos, hair tonics, tar solutions and metal polishes.
2. Added to topical preparation for skin disorder.
3. Protective agent for cracks, bruises, frostbite, and insect bite.
4. Diuretic
5. Cutaneous stimulant
6. expectorant
Caution: the drug is highly irritating and causes nausea on internal consumption

8. GOKHRU (syn: Caltrops fruit)

 Dried ripe seed of Tribulus terrestris Linn. Fam. Zygophyllaceae.
Cons: Terestrosins A, B, C, D and E.
Desgalatotigonin
 Tribulus terrestris Linn

F-gitonin
Desglucolanatigonin
Gitonin
Uses:
1. The fruit has cooling, anti-inflammatory, antarthritic, diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac
properties.
2. Used in building immune system, in painful micturition, calculus affection and
impotency.
3. Improves and prolong the duration of erection.
4. Exerts a stimulating effect on reproductary organ.

9. SARSAPARILLA (syn: Smilax medica, red-bearded sarsaparilla, radix sarsae, Jamaica

sarsaparilla).
 Dried roots of Smilax ornata Hooker.
Cons: Sarsaponin

Smilax ornata

Uses:
1. Used in chronic skin disease, rheumatism, passive dropsy, and in syphilis.
IV. CYANOGENIC GLYCOSIDE

1. ALMOND – fixed oil obtained by the expression from the seeds of Prunus amygdalus,
var. dulcis (sweet almond), amara (bitter almond).

Cons: protein 20%

Mucilage
Emulsin
Amygdalin (bitter almond)
Fixed oil 40-55 % for both variety
Almond oil (oleic- 62-86%, linoleic- 17%, palmitic-5%, myristic -1%, palmitoleic,
margaric, stearic, linoleic, arachidic, gadoleic, behenic, and erucic acid.

Uses:
1. Expressed almond oil is an emollient and an ingredient in cosmetic.
2. Almond oil is used as laxative, emollient in the preparation of toilet articles.
3. Vehicle for oily injections.
4. Volatile almond oil is flavoring agent.

2. WILD CHERRY BARK (syn: Virginian prune, black cherry, Virginian bark, cortex pruni).
 Is the dried bark of Prunus serotina Ehrhart.
Cons: Prunasin
Scopoletin
Starch
Resin
Tannin
Gallic acid
Fatty matter
Lignin
Red coloring matter
Salt of calcium, potassium, and iron
Volatile oil
Uses:
1. Astringent tonic
2. Pectoral
3. Sedative
4. Expectorant
5. Treatment of bronchitis
6. Valuable in catarrah, whooping cough, and dyspepsia.
IV. ISOTHIOCYANATE GLYCOSIDE

1. MUSTARD (syn: Sarson ka tel)

 Fixed oil obtained from the matured seeds of Brassica nigra Koch or B. juncea, B.
alba (white mustard)
Cons: Arachidic 0.5 % lignoceric 1-2 %
Behenic 2-3 % linoleic 14-18 %
Eicosenoic 7-8% linolenic 6.5 – 7%
Erusic 40-60 % oleic 20-22 %
Myristic 0.5-10 % Sinalbin (white mustard)
Black mustard seed contain 35-40% fixed oil and glycoside (sinigrin and myrosin)
Allyl isothiocynate – responsible for strong acid smell of volatile oil on hydrolysis of
glycoside.
Uses:
1. Fixed oil is used as edible oil after refining, but medicinal properties are due to allyl
isothiocynate.
2. Externally, it is rubefacient and vesicant.
3. local irritant and emetic
4. Used as condiment
5. Used in the manufacture of soap.
6. Refined mustard oil is used as vegetable ghee.

V. FLAVONE GLYCOSIDE
Yellow pigment – distributed in higher plants:
Rutin, Quercitrin, hyperoside, diosmin (buchu leaf)
Hesperidin (citrus bioflavonoids – lemon and orange peel)
Vitexin (Carategus)

1. GINGKO – from the dioeceous tree Gingko biloba.

Cons: Ginkgolides A, B C, J, M (diterpene lactones)

Uses:
1. Used as an antiasthmatic and bronchodilator.
2. Extract of the leaves containing selected constituent are used in improving
peripheral and cerebral circulation in those elderly with symptoms of loss of short-
term memory, hearing, and concentration.
3. Vertigo, headache, anxiety, and apathy are cured.

VI. COUMARIN AND FURANOCOUMARIN GLYCOSIDES

1. VISNAGA (syn: bishop’s flower, greater ammi, toothpick weed, Viznaga, Khaizaran,
khellakraut, khillah, picktooth)
 Ammi visnaga Linn.
Cons: Khellin
Visnagin chief constituent
Khellol
Furanocoumarin compounds
Pyranocoumarin esters (visnadin, samidin, and dihydrosamidin)
Fixed oil
Protein
Uses:
1. Visnaga is an effective muscle relaxant
2. Alleviate the excruciating pain of the kidney stones.
3. Khellin is used in the treatment of asthma.
4. Seeds are diuretic, antiasthmatic, and lithontripic.
5. The seed have a strong antispasmodic action on the smaller bronchial muscle,
urinary and blood vessel without affecting blood pressure.

2. AMMI (syn; bishop’s weed, laceflower, large bullwort, toothpick arami)

 Fruits of Ammi majus Linn.

Ammi majus
Cons: Xanthotoxin 0.4-1.9 %
Imperatorin
Bergapten
Isopimpilin
Furanocoumarins
Uses:
1. furanocoumarin which stimulate pigment production in the skin that is exposed to
sunlight, thus it is used in the treatment of vitiligo (piebald skin), and psoriasis.

3. PSORALEA (syn: Bavachi fruit, Malaya tea, bavachi seeds)

 From the dried ripe fruits and seeds of Psoralea corylifolia Linn.
Cons: Psoralen carylifolean
Isopsoralen bavachromanol
Psoralidin psoralenol
Isopsoralidin bavachalcone
Fixed oil 10% bavachinin
Essential oil 0.05% isobavachalcone
Resin bavachin
Isobavachin
Seed oil (limonene, β- caryophyllene oxide, 4-terpineol, linalool, geranyl acetate,
angelicine, psoralen, and bakuchiol).

Uses:
1. The fruits are aphrodisiac, antibacterial, and tonic to the genital organ.
2. The seed is anthelmintic, antibacterial, aphrodisiac, astringent, cytotoxic,
diaphoretic, diuretic, stimulant, stomachic, and tonic.
3. Used in the treatment of febrile disease, premature ejaculation, impotence, lower
back pain, frequent urination, incontinence, and bed wetting.
4. Externally, used for various skin ailments such leprosy, leukoderma, and hair loss.

Psoralea corylifolia

VII. ALDEHYDE GLYCOSIDES

1. VANILLA (Syn: Vanilla pods)

 Cured fully grown but unripe fruit of Vanilla fragrans.
 Vanilla fragrans

Cons: Vanillin
Glucovanillin (vanilloside) green vanilla
Glucovallinic alcohol
During curing: glucovannilic alcohol (hydrolysis yield glucose and vanillic alcohol)
Vallinic alcohol (oxidation) = vanillic aldehyde (vanillin)
Glucovanillin hydrolysis = yield glucose and vanillin.
Relative contents: anisyl alcohol, anisaldehyde, anisyl ethers, anisic acid ester, piperonal,
and p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vitispiranes – add to the flavor of the pods.

Uses:
1. Vanilla pods are widely used in confectionary and in perfumery.

VIII. PHENOL GLYCOSIDE

1.BEARBERRY (Syn: Uva ursi, bearberry leaves, busserole)

 These are the dried leaves Of Arctostaphylous uva-ursi Linne.

Uva-ursi
Cons:
Arbutin (in the leaves) gallic acid
Methyl arbutin ursolic acid
Quercetin α- amyrin
Ursone β-amyrin
Iriodoids terpenoids
Quinones
Tannin 6-10%

Uses:
1. The leaves have diuretic and astringent properties.
2. As infusion, used in urethritis and cystitis.

IX. STEROIDAL GLYCOSIDE

1. SOLANUM
 It consists of the dried berries of Solanum khasianum C.B Clarke.

Solanum khasianum
Cons:
Steroidal glycoalkaloid (solasodine 3%)
Solakhasianin (rhamnose and galactose sugar component)
Greenish -yellow fixed oil 8-10%

Uses:
1. Solasodine is used as precursor for steroidal synthesis.
2. 16-dehydro-pregnenelone acetate is used as precursor for steroids
(corticosteroids, pregnane, and androstanes)- these are useful as sex hormones,
and oral contraceptive.

X. BITTER AND MISCELLANEOUS GLYCOSIDE

 Bitter glycoside is class of compounds that plays an important role in the digestive
process.
1. GENTIAN (Syn: Gentian root, yellow gentian root)
 Consists of the dried unfermented rhizomes and roots of Gentiana lutea Linn.
Cons:
Dried gentian root contains gentinin and gentiamarin, bitter glucosides, gentianic acid
(gentisin)
Gentiopicrin (bitter, pale yellow crystalline substance.

Gentiana lutea

Uses:
1. Use as herbal bitter in the treatment of digestive disorders.
2. Used to measure scientific basis for measuring bitterness (because it contain
the most bitter compound).
3. Useful in state of exhaustion from chronic illness, in all cases of debility,
weakness of the digestive system and lack of appetite.
4. Strengthen human system, stimulating the liver, gall bladder and digestive
system.
5. Excellent tonic to combine with a purgative in order to prevents it debilitating
effects.
6. Anthelmintic
7. Anti-inflammatory
8. Antiseptic
9. Emmenagogue
10. Febrifuge
11. Refrigerant
12. Stomachic
13. Taken internally in the treatment of liver complaints, indigestion, gastric
infection and anorexia.
Caution: it should not be prescribed for patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer.
2.PICRORHIZA (Syn: kami, kuru (hindi), katvee)
 Consist of dried rhizome of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth., cut into small pieces
and freed from attached rootlets.

Picrorhiza kurroa
Cons:
Picrorhizin (active constituent) on Apocynin
hydrolysis yield picrorhizetin and 6-feruioylcatalpol
dextrose. Vernicoside,
Kutkin (bitter principle) minecoside,
Picroside I, II, III picein,
D-mannitol androsin,
Vallinic acid β-D-6-cinnamoylglucose
Kurrin arvenin III
Kutkiol phenolic glycoside (picein and androsin)
Kutkisterol seven cucurbitacin glycoside

Uses:
1. Picrorhiza is bitter, cathartic, stomachic.
2. Used in fever and dyspepsiaand in purgative preparations.
3. Antiperiodic and cholagogue, febrifuge, and antimalarial.
4. Cured different types of jaundice.
5. Removes kidney stone
6. Emmenagogue
7. Emetic
8. Abortifacient
9. Antidote for dog bite.
10. Externally, used in skin disease.
 11. Improves eye sight
12. Laxative in small doses
13. Cathartic in large doses

2. CHIRATA (syn: Indian gentian, Indian balmony, chirayta, Ophelia chirata, swertia
chirayita)
 Consists of the entire herb of Swertia chirata Buch-Ham.
 It contains not less than 1.3 % bitter constituent.
Cons:
Chiritin
Gentiopicrin
Amarogentin (phenol carboxylic acid ester of sweroside
, a substance related to gentiopicrin)
Ophelic acid (non crystalline bitter substance)
Gentainine
Gentiocrucine

Swertia chirata
Uses:
1. Ingredient in well known ayurvedic preparation mahasudarshan churna and
Sudarshan churna used successfully in chronic fever.
2. The whole plant is extremely bitter tonic digestive herb that lowers fevers and is
stimulant.
3. Beneficial effect on the liver, promoting the flow of bile.
4. Cures constipation
5. Treatment for dyspepsia

3. QUASSIA (syn: lignum quassiae, bitter wood, Jamaica quassia, bitter ash)
 Is the dried wood of the stem of Aeschrion excelsa (Picroena excelsa Linld
or Picrasma excelsa (S.W) Planchon).
 Picrasma excelsa

Cons:
1. Bitter amaroid compounds
 Quassin
 Isoquassin (picrasmin)
 Neoquassin and 18-hydroxy quassin
 Volatile oil
 Gummy extractive pectin
 Woody fiber
 Tartrate and sulphate of lime
 Chlorides of calcium and sodium
 Salts (oxalate, and ammoniacal salt)
 nitrate of potash
 sulphate of soda)
Uses:
1. quassia wood is a pure bitter tonic and stomachic.
2. Vermicide and slight narcotic
3. It acts on flies and some of the higher animals as a narcotic poison.
4. Valuable remedy in convalescence, after acute disease and in debility and atonic
dyspepsia.
5. Antispasmodic in fever
6. Increase appetite (small doses)

4. KALMEGH (Syn:Andrographis, king of bitters, chiretta, Bengal chirata, green

chirata, Kiryet (Hindi).
 Consists of leaves or entire aerial part Andrographis paniculate Nees.
 Andrographis Paniculata

Cons:
1. Kalmeghin (bitter crystalline diterpene lactone)
2. Andrgrapholide flavonoids and phenol
3. Lactones (andrographolide, 14-deoxy-11-oxo- andragrapholide, 14-deoxy-11, 12-
didehydroandrographolide, 14-deoxyandrographolide, and neoandrographolide)
4. The leaves contains (β-sitossterol glucoside, caffeic, chlorogenic, and dicaffeoyl-
quinic acid, carvacrol, eugenol,myristic acid, hentriacontane, tritriacontane, oroxylin
A, wogonin, andrograpanin, 14-deoxy-12-methoxyandrographolide, andrographidines
A-F, and stigmasterol.
Uses:
1. Febrifuge, tonic, alterative, anthelmintic, astringent, anodyne, alexipharmic
(antidote to poison), cholagogue (promotes discharge of bile) properties.
2. Useful in debility, cholera, diabetes, swelling, itches, consumption, influenza, piles,
gonorrhea, bronchitis, dysentery, dyspepsia, fever, and in weakness.
3. A decoction of the plant as a blood purifier and as cure for torphid (mentally and
physically inactive/lethargic), and jaundice.
4. The pills prepared from macerated leaves and certain spice (e. cardamom, clove,
cinnamon) are given for stomach ailments for infants.

Prepared by:
Beverly Joy O. Gadiano

Reference: Pharmacognosy and phytochemistry by Biren Shah andA.K. Seth

Ist edition, 2010.
Pages 232-279