Herbal Laxative: , senna, castor oil, ISPAGHULA, RHUBARB... pharmacyteach

 

 

Laxatives: Latin: laxare: to loosen

*Laxatives are substances that lose stools and increase bowel movements.

These substances are used to treat and prevent constipation.

The substance which loses the bowels or produces, increasing and hastening intestinal evacuation or promoting defecation is known as a laxative.

 

 

1 . ALOE Vera

Synonym: Ghirt Kumari.

Biological Source: It consists of dried juice of Aloe barbadensis miller.

Family: Liliaceae.

Morphology:

Colour: Greenish brown

Odour: Characteristic

Taste: Intensely bitter and Nauseating

Fracture Glossy

 

Chemical Constituents of Aloe: Aloin, Barbaloin, Isobarbaloin, Aloe-emodin, ẞ-barbaloin, Resin contain aloesin

 

Uses of aloe:

1.   Purgative

2.   In Cosmetics as protective

3.   Stimulates the growth of hairs. 4. For painful inflammations.

 

Chemical Test for Aloe:

Boil 1gm of aloe with 10ml of water, filter it and use the filtrate for further testing as follows.

i)                  Add bromine solution to the above filtrate, and a pale yellow precip is formed.

 

 

2 . CASTOR OIL:

 

Synonyms: Ricinus oil.

Biological Source: It is a fixed oil obtained by the cold expression of the seeds of Ricinus communis.

Family: Euphorbiaceae.

Morphology:

Colour: Pale yellow or almost colourless

Odor: Nauseating. Taste: Slightly acrid and nauseating.

Chemical Constituents of castor oil: Ricinoleic acid, Isoricinoleic acid, Linoleic acid, isostearic acid, and Stearic acid.

 

Uses of castor oil:

1. Cathartic

2. Lubricant

3. Preparation of paints

4. Enamels, varnishes, grease, Polishes and printing inks.

 

Chemical Test for castor oil:

i)                  Add an equal volume of alcohol to castor oil, and a clear liquid is obtained; cool it at 0°C, liquid remains clear on storage for 3hrs.

 

 

3 . ISPAGHULA:

 

Synonyms: Indian psyllium, flea seed.

Biological source: It consists of dried seeds of Plantago ovata Family: Plantaginaceae.

Morphology:

Colour: Pinkish grey or brown

Odour: None

Taste: Mucilaginous and Bland.

Shape: It is ovate cymbiform Size: 10-35mm long and 1-1.75 mm thick

 

Chemical Constituents of spatula: Isapgol seed and husk contains mucilage, chemically it contains: Penttosan, Aldobionic acid, fibre, proteins, and fixed oil.

 

Uses of Aspaghula:

    1.As demulcent, laxative

    2. Emollient

4.   In the treatment of chronic constipation, amoebic

5.   Bacillary dysentery.

6.   As stabilizer.

 

Chemical Test for Aspaghula:

i)                  Add ruthenium red solution to Isapgol powder, pink colour Is produced.

 

4 . RHUBARB:

 

Synonym: Rheum

Biological Source: It consists of the dried rhizome of Rheum palmatum and other species of Rheum.

Family: Polygonaceae.

Morphology:

Colour: Brown to yellow.

Odour: Fragrant.

Taste: Bitter and astringent.

Shape: Sub-cylindrical, barrel-shaped, conical.

Size: Pieces of rhubarb are 2-20cm long and 1.5-2 cm thick.

 

Chemical Constituents of Rhubarb: Rhein, Emodin. Chrysophanol, Glucorhein, Palmidin A, B, C.

Uses of Rhubarb:

1.   Mild purgative.

2.   Astringent.

3.   Stomachic.

 

Chemical Test for Rhubarb:

i)                  Add ammonia solution to the drug powder, it gives pink colour.

ii)               Add 5% potassium hydroxide solution to drug powder, it gives blood red colouration.

 

5 . SENNA  LEAVES:

 

Synonym: Indian senna

Biological Source: It consists of dried leaflets of Cassia augustifolia.

Family: Leguminosae.

Morphology:

Colour: Yellowish green

Odour: Slight.

 

Taste: Mucilaginous, bitter and characteristic.

Shape: Lanciolate, entire, apex is acute and spine at the top. Size: 7-8 mm thick and 25-60 mm long

 

Chemical Constituents of senna: It contains anthraquinone glycosides. Sennoside A,B, C, D, Sennidin, Rhein Emodin, Aloe- emodin.

 

Uses of senna leaves :

1.   Laxative

2.   Irritant purgative

3.   Carminative.

Chemical Test for Senna:

i) Bontrager’s Test.