Synonyms: Belladonna Herb, Belladonna Leaf,

Belladonnae Herba, Deadly Nightshade

Leaves, Folia Belladonnae
Botanical source: Belladonna consists of the
leaves and other aerial parts of Atropa
belladonna Linn. of the family Solanaceae,
collected when the plant is in flower.
Geographical source: The plant is indigenous to
central and southern Europe and is
cultivated in England, other European
countries and the United States of America.
Chemical constituents:
0.2 to 0.6 percent tropanc alkaloids, the
principal one being hyoscyamine.
small amounts of some other tropane alkaloids
and some volatile bases.
Uses:
1. Belladonna is used externally as a painkiller
2. It is used internally to check excessive
secretions, as a sedative and antispasmodic.
3.It is a mydriatic drug
4. It also acts as a local aesthetic and anodyne.
 Synonyms: Caryophyllum, Caryophyllus, Caryophylli
 Botanical source: Clove is the dried flower buds of Eugerua
caryophyllus. Spraque, and evergreen tree of the family
Myrtaceae.

 Geographical source: Eugenia caryophyllus is indigenous to

Molucca islands and is now commercially cultivated in
Zanzibar and Pamba (Tanzania) Islands and also in many
other Island countries of the world.

 Chemical constituents:
-15 to 20 percent of volatile oil, the chief constituent of
which is eugenol.
-It also contains -vanillin,
-10 to 13 percent of tannin, terpenic acid,
gum, resin and a crystalline substance called caryophyllin
 Uses:
 Clove is used as an aromatic stimulant,
antispasmodic and carminative and for the
preparation of Clove oil.
 Synonyms: Strychni Semina, Crow Fig.
 Botanical source: Nux-vomica consists of the
dried seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica Linn., a
small tree of the family Loganiaceae.
 Geographical source: plant grows wild in
India, West Indies and Cameroon and
sporadically in Chittagong Hill Tracts of
Bangladesh.
 Chemical constituents:
 The seed drug Nux-vomica contains the indole
alkaloids, strychnine (about 1.24 %) and brucine
(about 1.5 %).
 2. It also contains caffeotannic acid, a glycoside,
loganin and a fixed oil.
 Uses:
 It is used as a tonic and stomachic and is given in
constipation.
 It increases blood pressure. Thus it is also useful in
certain cases of heart failure
 In large doses it causes convulsions and thus is
used in pharmacological research.
 Synonyms: Cinchona Bark, Peruvian Bark,
Cinchonae Cortex
 Botanical source: Cinchona consists of the dried
bark of various species, races and hybrids of
Cirichona, particularly of Cinchona succirubra
Pavon (Red Cinchona), Cinchona calisaya Weddell
(Yellow Cinchona), Cinchona ledgeriafla Moens, and
Cinchona officinalis Linn. Cirichona species are
large trees. They belong to the family Rubiaceae.
 Geographical source: Cinchona is indigenous to
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia and cultivated
commercially in Java (Indonesia) and India.
 Constituents:
 Cinchona bark contains four important
quinoline alkaloids, which are quinine,
quinidine, cinchonine and cinchonidine.
 It also contains quinic acid, cinchotannic
acid, cinchona red and many minor
alkaloids.
 Uses:
 Cinchona possesses febrifuge properties
and has been used in the treatment of
malaria fever
 Synonyms: Rauwolfia Serpentina, Rauwolfia
Root, Indian Snri’ root, Sarpagondha,
Chhotachand
 Botanical source: Rauwolfia consists of the
dried roots Rauvolfia serpentina Benth., a
large shrub of the farnil, Apocynaceae.
 Geographical source: The Plant is
indigenous to Bangladesh, India, Burma,
Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
 Chemical constituents:
 Rauwolfia contains 1.2 to 1.4 percent of
total indole alkaloids , the most important
of which are rcscrpjne, descrpidine and
recinnamine.
 It also includes resinous matter, fatty acids,
unsaturated alcohols, dextrose and sucrose.
 Uses:
 It is used in reducing high blood pressure
 it is also used as a sedative in the treatment
of insomnia, anxiety, insanity and certain
other neurophychiatric dishorders.
 Biological source: Opium is the dried latex
obtained from the mature but unripe
capsules of Opium poppy, Papaver
somniferum Linn., a cultivated annual plant
of the family Papaveraceae.
 Geographical source: The official
geographical sources of the drug are
Turkey, Russia, Yugoslavia and India, where
the plant is cultivated under strict
Government control. The drug is also
produced in China, Iran and some South-
Eastern Asian countries.
 Chemical constituents:
 It contains
 25% of isoquinolone alkaloids, the most important of which is
morphine.
 4-8 % narcotine
 0.8-2.5 % codeine
 0.5-2.5 % papaverine
 0.5-2.0% thebaine.
 It also contains meconic acid, meconin, resin and gum.
 Uses:
 Opium is a narcotic drug. It is chiefly used as a strong
analgesic agent to relieve pain.
 It is also used as a hypnotic drug and as a diaphoretic.
 Biological source: Aloe consists of the evaporated
juice, which drains from the cut leaves of various
species of Aloe (Fanuly Liliaceae). According to
their natural sources, the following thi commercial
varieties of Aloe are recognised.
 1. Cape aloe (obtained from Aloe ferox Mill.)
 2. Curacao aloe (obtained from Aloe vera Linn.)
 3. Socotrinc aloe (obtained from Aloe perryi Baker)
 Geographical source: Aloe plants are indigenously
grown various East African countries and in South
Africa. They are cultivated in West Indian Islands.
 Chemical constituents:
 1. The principal constituents of Aloe are
anthraquinone giveosides, the most
important of which is barbaloin.
 2. The others include iso-barbaloin, Beta-
barbaloin and aloe-emodin.
 3. Aloe also contains a pale yellow volatile oil
and resin.
 Uses: 1. Aloe is used as a cathartic drug. It is
a valuable purgative in different forms of
constipation, particularly the habitual
constipation.
 2. Aloe is also used as a pharmaceutic
necessity in Compound Benzoin Tincture.
 Synonyms: Acacia Gum, Gum Arabic,
Acaciae Gummi
 Biological source: Acacia consists of the
dried gummy exudate from the stems and
branches of Acacia senegal Wild and
otherrelated African species of Acacia. They
belong to the family
 Leguminosae.
 Geographical source: Acacia plants grow
freely in both East and West African
countries.
 Chemical constituents: The principal
constituent of Acacia is arabin, which is a
complex mixture of calcium, potassium and
magnesium salts of arabic acid. On hydrolysis
it yields L- arabnose, L-rhamnose, galactose
and glucuronic units.
 Uses:
 Acacia is used as a suspending agent,
 a demulcent and in tablet granulation.
 It is a gum of choice for pharmaceutical
preparations.
 Synonyms: Oleum Morrhuae, Morrhua oil
 Biological source: Cod-liver oil is obtained by
extracting the fresh liver of the cod, Gadus
morrhua Linn. and other species of Gadus (Family
Gadidae).
 Geographical source: North coast of Norway,
Newfoundl and Iceland are the principal sources of
the Cod-liver oil.
 Macroscopical and microscopical characters: Cod-
liver oil is a pale yellow oily liquid with a fishy odor
and a bland fishy taste. It is slightly soluble in
alcohol, but miscible with chloroform, ether and
light petroleum. The specific gravity of the oil
varies from 0.922 to 0.929. It remains clear on
standing for three hours at 0°C.
 Chemical constituents: Cod-liver oil
contains about of glycosides of unsaturated
fatty acids, cholesterol and Vitamin A and
Vitamin D.
 Uses:
 Cod liver oil is used as a nutritional
supplement
 and in prevention, treatment and cure of
vitamin A and D deficiency diseases like
rickets and xerophthalmia and also in
treating tuberculosis.