Synonym: Ipecacuanha, Ipecac
Biological source: It consists of the dried roots, or the rhizomes and roots of Cephaelis ipecacuanha Rio or Brazilian or Cephaelis acuminate Panama, or Cartagena
Family:. Rubiaceae
Geographical source: Brazil, India, Myanmar, and Malaysia
Cultivation, Collection and Preparation:
Propagation : Seeds in mid January to mid February
Temperature and Rainfall: 23 to 38°C, 300 cm
The two months old seedlings are transplanted at a spacing of 10 x 10 cm.
Macroscopic characters Brazilian ipecacuanha Roots:
Colour: Dark brick red to dark brown
Odour: Faint
Taste: Bitter
Shape: Roots are found in tortuous pieces
Fracture: Annulated externally, ridges rounded and completely encircling roots with short fracture
Rhizomes
Colour: Dark brown to brick red
Size : 2mm in diameter and short
Shape: cylindrical shaped with wrinkled longitudinally
Macroscopic characters Panama ipecacuanha Roots:
Colour: Greyish brown to reddish brown
Odour: Faint
Taste: Bitter
Shape: Cylindrical large in size almost 8 to 9 mm thickness absence of annulation and some of transverse ridges
Chemical constituents:
It contains isoquinoline alkaloid belong to phenolic and non phenolic groups.
The main alkaloid
Emetine
Cephaline
Psychotrine
O-methyl psychotrine and emetamine
Minor bases like psychotrine
Emetamine and m-methyl psychotrine
Cephaeline is converted into emetine by methylation of phenolic C (6) hydroxyl group.
It also contains ipecacuanhic acid
Starch and calcium oxalate
Chemical Tests
Powder drug + 20 ml HCL + 5ml of Water ===è Filtrate + 0.5 g Potassium chlorate===è yellow change to red colour due to emetine.
Drug + sulphuric acid + Sodium molybdate (Frohde’s reagent) ====è bright green colour
Uses:
Expectorant in small doses and emetic in higher doses.
Emetine hydrochloride is used as anti-protozoal, as it is highly toxic to amoeba i.e. Entamoeba
histolytica even in very low concentrations like 1 in 6 millions.
Ipecacuanha is used for isolation of emetine and cephaeline.
Allied Plants
Alangium, Hillia, Manettia Psych atria, Borteris, Remijia and Ferdinandusa.