ANTHRAQUINONE

• Anthraquinone Glycosides

  • These glycosides are characterized by a chemical test, known as Borntrager test
  • The common aglycones are aloe-emodin, emodin, rhein, chrysophanol and physcion
  • The sugars presents are usually arabinose, rhamnose and glucose
• • Use: Stimulant Cathartic
  • Penicillium islandicum, a species that produces several anthraquinone derivatives
  • Chronic use can lead to melanosis coli
• Melanosis coli is a harmless

  condition in which the lining

  of the colon and rectum,

  which is usually pink in color,

  turns a shade of black or

  brown
• A.Cascara sagrada/Rhamnus pershiana

  • Rhamnus purshianus
  • Uses: cathartic.
  • Its principal use is in the correction of habitual constipation, where it not only acts as a laxative but restores natural tone of colon.
  • Casanthranol is a purified mixture of the anthranol glycosides extracted from cascara sagrada
• B. Frangula

  • Dried bark from Rhamnus frangula
  • The composition and activity of frangula bark correspond to those of C. sagrada
  • Component of an OTC product Movicol
  • Cured for 1 year
• C. Aloe

  Curacao aloe - Aloe barbadensis

  Cape aloe - Aloe spicata

  ● Aloe is a pharmaceutical aid for compound benzoin tincture and a cathartic, which acts in the large intestines. Has a drastic effect

  ● Preparations

  ○ Barbaloin A - cathartic component

  ○ Aloe vera gel - management of burn
• D. Rheum

  • Chinese Rheum/ Rhubarb
  • From dried rhizome and root Rheum officinale
  • Rhein anthrones - drastic cathartic
• E. Senna

  • Tinnevelly - Cassia angustifolia
  • Alexandria - Cassia acutifolia
  • Grown in paddies square lots of land
  • Use: senna is a cathartic. Dose is 2g
• F. Chrysarobin

  A mixture of neutral principles from Goa powder

  • Andira araroba
  • Not employed as a cathartic but a keratolytic agent tx for psoriasis, trichophytosis , and chronic

  Not employed as a cathartic but a keratolytic agent tx for psoriasis, trichophytosis , and chronic eczema
• G. Danthron/Chrysazin

  • Is 1,8 dihydroxyanthraquinone.
  • It occurs as a orange colored crystalline powder that is practically insoluble with water.
  • Use:

  ○ danthron is a cathartic drug and is an important intermediate in the manufacture of anthralin and of alizarin and indanthrene dye stuffs.

  Dose is 75-150mg