This slide contains sources, collection process, constituents and uses of some important plants for making medicine containing anthraquinone glycosides like Senna, Cascara Sagrada, Aloe, Rhubarb, Chrysarobin.

1. Anthraquinone
Glycosides

2. 1
2
3
4
Sources : Botanical and geographical
Collection
Constituents
Uses

3. Anthraquinone Glycosides
Anthraquinone are glycosides which possess anthracene or their derivatives as aglycone in
which two kept keto group are attached with the benzene ring. Anthraquinone also
anthracenedione or dioxoanthracene is ar aromatic compound. Several isomers are
possible.

4. Anthranone:
• Reduced anthraquinone derivatives and keto group is attached with the benzene
ring.
• Found in free or combined form
• Can converted to other compounds in solution
• Contains significant therapeutic action of the crude drug
Anthranole:
• Reduced anthraquinine derivatives in which a hydroxyl group is attached with the
benzene ring
• Found in free or combined form
• Contains significant therapeutic action of the crude drug
Oxanthrone:
• Intermediate products between anthraquinone and anthranols
• Present in Cascara Sagrada bark
• Produce anthraquinone on oxidation

5. Hydrolysis:
Chemical test of anthraquinone:
• Borntrager’s test
• Modified Borntrager’s test

6. Uses
1. Stimulant cathartics
2. Aglycone in free state shows little therapeutic activity
3. Glycone helps in absorption and transportation of aglycone in large intestine
4. Dyestuff precursor
5. Digester additive in papermaking
6. In the production of hydrogenperoxide

7. Cascara
Sagrada

8. Botanical Source: Dried bark of Rhamnus purshianus. (Family- Rhamnaceae)
Geographical sources:
• Native – Pacific coast of North America
• Commercial supplies- Oregon, Washington, Southern British Columbia
Collection:
• Bark is stripped from the tree
• Bark is sun dried
• Broken into small pieces and keep into bags
• Keep for one years before use
Branch of Cascara
Sagrada tree
Bark of cascara

9. Chemical
Constituent
Glycosides
GlyconeAglycone

10. Glycosides
O- Glycosides- 10-20% C- Glycosides- 80-90%
(Based on emodin) (Aloin like compounds)
They are both O
and C- Glycosides

11. Aglycone Unit
Emodin, Iso- emodin, Aloe emodin, Methyl-hydrocotoin, Chrysophanic acid
Emodin
Glycone Unit
Rhamnose and Glucose ratio is 1:1

12. Uses
1. The hydroxyanthracene glycosides act as a stimulant laxative by exciting
peristalsis in the colon.
2. Emodin of bark may have anti-cancer effects.
3. The food industry sometimes uses cascara as a flavoring agent for liquors, soft
drinks, ice cream, and baked goods
4. Has anti ageing properties
5. Hydrating properties
6. Prevents hair problems
Caution:
• High doses can causes diarrhea
• Pregnant and lactating women are advised not to use
• Regular use can make you addict of the herb
• Prolonged use may cause brownish yellow urine

13. Aloe

14. Botanical Sources: Dried latex of leaves of following plants
• Aloe barbadensis or Aloe vera (Curacao Aloe)
• Alo ferox, Aloe Africana, Aloe spicata (Cape Aloe)
Family- Liliaceae

15. GEOGRAFICAL SOURCE:
Curacao Aloe: Aloe barbadensis is a native of northern africa
Cape Aloe: Cape Aloe is found in US ,Venezuela,Haiti & South Africa
Collection:
• Leaves are cut in March and april
• Placed cut-end downward in a V-shaped vessel
• Allowed to harden
• Hard , bitter tasted latex is collected then

16. Chemical constituents:
1. Curacao Aloe
• Isobarbaloin
• Free aloe-emodin
• Free and combine anthranol
• Chrysophanic acid
Anthranol

17. 2. Cape Aloe
• Barbaloin 5-30%
• Socaloin 7.5-10%
• also volatile oil and resinous yellow aloin is present.
Aloin

18. Uses
1. Aloe perryi,Aloe ferox,aloe babadensis are used as natural flavoring agent in USA.
2. It acts as purgative or laxative mainly unprocessed aloe.Also some drugs are made
up of aloe constituents which acts as colon cleanser.
3. it has healing power so used in the treatment of burns and other skin problems.
4. Used hugely in cosmetic products
5. Also some people use this plants as ornamental or decorative plants because of
their nice color and shape.
6. According to Cancer Research UK, a potentially deadly product called T-UP is made
of concentrated aloe, and promoted as a cancer cure. They say "there is currently no
evidence that aloe products can help to prevent or treat cancer in humans"

20. Interactions:
1. We cant intake aloe along with Lanoxin drug as it increases the side effects of lanoxin
because aloe is stimulant laxative and decreases the potassium level which aggravates
the side effects of this drug.The latex of aloe decreases some drugs activity.
2.We should avoid aloe while taking antidiabetes drugs because both decreases the
blood sugar level.
3. Taking aloe before surgery can cause increased bleeding as it has anti blood clotting
property.

21. Rhubarb

22. Botanical Sources: Dried roots and rhizomes of
• Rheum officinale
• Rheum palmatum
• Rheum emodi (Indian or Himalayan)
• Rheum webbianum (Indian or Himalayan)
Family- Polygonaceae
Geographical sources:
• Native- China for Chinese Rhubarb and India, Pakistan,Nepal for Indian Rhubarb

23. Rheum officinale
Rheum palmatum
Rheum emodi
Rheum webbianum

24. Collection:
• Rhizomes are collected in Autumn
• Peeled and perforated, strung on rope
• Dried in sun or artificial heat
Growing Rhubarb in raised beds Growing Rhubarb in Greenhouse

25. Chemical Constituens:
• Glycosides of Rhein anthrones
• Anthraquinones- Rhein, Chrysophanol, Emodin, Aloe emodin, Emodin monomethyl ether
• Gallic acid, Catechin, Calcium oxalate (7%)
Emodin

26. Uses
1. Used as cathartic
2. Astringent
3. Mouthwash for oral ulcer
4. Treat burns, wounds
5. Fibers obtained from rhubarb can be used for the manufacture of paper
6. Used for dyeing of hair.

27. Anything interesting??
• Rhubarb- “a heated argument or dispute”
• The leaves attached to the Rhubarb stalk are poisonous. It repel insects!
• One of its most popular applications….. Pie!
• Fruit??? Or Vegetable???
• Rhubarb enhances the appetite.
• The impact of the rhubarb depends on how it is prepared.
• More recently there have been claims that rhubarb can be useful in treatment of Hepatitis B.
• One of the first medicines to be imported from china to the West

28. Senna

29. Botanical Sources: Dried leaflet of
• Cassia acutifolia (Alexandria Senna)
• Cassia angustifolia (Tinnevelly Senna)
Family- Leguminosae
Geographical Sources:
• Cassia acutifolia grows near the Nile Aswan to Kordofan
• Cassia angutifolia grows wild in Somalia, Arabian Peninsula and India
Cultivation:
• Harvested in April and September
• Cut off the tops of the plants about 15 cm above the ground
• Dried in the sun
• Stems and pods are separated from leaflets
• Leaves are graded and baled or packed in bags
Cultivation of Senna

30. Chemical Constituents:
1. Glycosides- Sennoside A and B whose aglycone is rhein dianthrone.
2.Sennosoids C and D whose aglycone is composed of one molecule of rhein and one
molecule of aloe-emodin.
3. Monomeric glycosides and Free anthraquinones
4. Senna pod contains active glycosides

31. Uses
1. Cathartic
2. It is safe for shorter period in case of pregnancy or breast feeding
3. Treat irritable bowel syndrome
4. Treat skin disorders
5. Clean the system of worms
6. Purgative

32. Chrysarobin

33. Botanical Sources: It is a mixture of neutral principles obtained from Goa powder
which is obtained from Lysogenous cavities in the wood of Andira araroba.
Family- Leguminosae.
Geographical sources: Portuguese colon on the Malabar Coast of India.
Chemical Constituents:
1. Chrysophanol anthrone (30-40%)
2. Emodin anthrone monomethyl ether (20%)
3. Dehydro emodin anthrone monomethyl ether (30%)
Chrysophanol Anthrone

34. Properties:
• Commercial product
• Brownish to orange-yellow
• Microcrystalline
• Odorless
• Tasteless powder
• Irritating to mucous membranes
• Causes dangerous inflammation if it enters the eye