Buckthorn

BUCKTHORN. In medicine, the bark of the stems and branches of two species of B. is used. 1. Frangula (F.U.N.), or Russian (Rhamnus frangula L.), a shrub (family Rhamnaceae) growing throughout Europe, Central Asia, and North America. The bark suitable for use (aged in a dried state for at least one year) has no odor and a sweetish-bitter taste; it is sold in the form of tubes up to 3 cm long. 2. American B. (F.U.N.) (Rhamnus Purshiana de Candolle, s. Cascara sagrada) – a shrub-tree (family Rhamnaceae), widespread in the western part of North America; it has a weak, characteristic odor and a bitter taste. In its raw state, the bark of both species of B. is unsuitable for use, as it contains a chemically undefined substance that causes side effects – nausea, vomiting, colic-like pains; after prolonged (more than one year) drying or brief heating to 100°, these properties of the bark disappear. - Besides starch, mucilage, tannin, and mineral salts, from the components of Russian B. are known: 1. Frangula-emodin (or rhamno-emodin), one of many (up to 15) isomers of emodin [C₁₄H₄(CH₃)(OH)₃O₂], is a trioxymethyl-anthraquinone. It is contained in the bark at 2.6%. 2. Chrysophanic acid [C₁₄H₃(CH₃)(OH)₂O₂]. 3. A glucoside called frangulin (or rhamnoxanthin) with the formula C₁₅H₇O₂(OH)₂.O.CH-CH.CH(OH). \ / o .CH(OH)CH(OH)CH_a, which decomposes on boiling into rhamnose (rhamnodulcite) and emodin. The bark of B. gives the Borntrager reaction (after shaking with ether or gasoline and after removing them, shaking again with ammonia – a red coloration), indicating the presence of oxianthrachino-nes in a free form; with prolonged storage of the bark, the reaction becomes more intense due to the gradual liberation of anthraquinone derivatives from the substances that form them. The chemical composition of American B. is very similar to that of Russian B.: frangula-emodin, chrysophanic acid, a glucoside called purshianin (0.6% in the bark); according to some authors, in addition, there is cascarin (C₁₂H₁₀O₅), isolated by Leprince in crystalline form; Klein considers cascarin identical with rhamnetin (C₁₆H₁₂O₇). According to Tschirch, the total content of oxymethyl-anthrachino-nes in the bark of Russian B. reaches 4.5–5%, and of American B. – 1.4–2%. By their action on the organism, both barks and preparations from them belong to the group of plant laxatives and relate to the subgroup of substances containing anthraquinone derivatives (anthracene) as active components; to this subgroup also belong rhubarb, Alexandrian leaf, and senna. Their main site of action is the large intestine due to the local stimulating action on the musculature of its wall. There is no action, or almost none, on the stomach wall and small intestines; sometimes, however, an action on the small intestines is noted, and at present the question of whether this depends on the species of animal, large doses of the drug, or the conditions of the investigation (Magnus) has not been resolved. - Large doses can cause colic-like pains. The laxative effect occurs after several (8–12) hours. With prolonged use, habituation occurs almost not at all, which is why these means are widely used for habitual chronic constipation. Due to the fact that with the action of B. only insignificant hyperemia of the pelvic organs occurs, preparations from Cascara sagrada are applicable even in the presence of menstruation, metrorrhagia, and pregnancy. - Anthraquinone derivatives and their glucosides are partly (although with difficulty) absorbed, enter the blood, from which they are excreted into the intestine, as well as in the urine and milk. Acidic urine, due to the presence of emodin, is colored yellowish-brown, and alkaline urine reddish or violet: this should be warned to patients. Preparations. 1) Cortex Frangulae in the form of a 10–15% decoction, one tablespoonful before action. To reduce the amount of liquid introduced, the decoction is thickened: Rp. Decoct. Cort. Frangulae 20,0:200,0, inspissa (or coque) ad 100,0, Sirupi simpl. 50,0, MDS. Take 2–4 tablespoonfuls 2 times a day (Trendelenburg). Since the decoction spoils easily, it is expedient to add alcohol to it (Marfori). In the people, it is done as follows: 1 tablespoonful of the collection is boiled with 3 cups of water until no more than 2 cups remain; it is drunk one cup in the morning and evening (Vershinin). 2) Extr. Frangulae fluidum (F.U.N.) – a dark brown liquid of bitter taste. Internally – 1/2–1 teaspoonful 2–3 times a day. 3) Extr. Cascarae sagradae fl. (F VII) – a dark brown very bitter liquid; acts somewhat more strongly than the previous extract. Internally 15–20 drops 3 times a day or 1–2 teaspoonfuls at night. It is often combined with rhubarb, strychnine preparations, or belladonna extract, for example: Rp. Extr. Cascarae sagradae fl. 10,0, Sir. Cort. Aurant. 20,0, T-rae Belladonnae 1,0, MDS. Take 1 teaspoonful in the evening. 4) Extr. Cascarae sagradae siccum – an extract turned into powder; 1 part of it corresponds to 3 parts of bark. The dose is 0.3 per dose. 5) Extr. Cascarae sagradae aromaticum fl. – a water extract in which the bitter principles are partly destroyed by maceration with magnesia; it contains 25% alcohol (to prevent spoilage) with the addition for taste of Rad. Liquiritiae, aromatic substances, or saccharin. Per dose – 30 drops. 6) Cascarine Leprince, a French preparation of cascarin (see above) in the form of pills or elixir. The dose is 4–2 pills at night. 7) Numerous patented preparations of cascarar in the form of lozenges, tablets, pills, etc.; for example, Cascara Midy, Cascara P., D. & C⁰ and others; the dosage is indicated on their labels. 8) Peristaltinum – a mixture of glucosides from Cort. Rhamni Purshianae in the form of an odorless powder, easily soluble in water. Internally in tablets of 0.05; adults 1–3 a day, children – 1/2–2 tablets a day. There are also ampoules for subcutaneous injections (the dose is the same as for internal use); it is absorbed quickly from the subcutaneous tissue, excreted by the intestine and kidneys. 9) Regulinum – a dried mixture of agar-agar with 25% Extr. Cascarae sagradae. Internally – one teaspoonful (1–2) in porridge, mucilaginous soups, etc.

On the quantitative determination of extractive substances in buckthorn bark, Chem.-pharm. t., 1928, No. 5; Magnus R., Allgemeines iiber Abfiihrmittel (Hndb. d. exp. Pharmakologie, hrsg. v. A. Heffter, B. II, H. 2, B., 1924); he also, Der Einfluss der Abfiihr-mitlel auf die Verdauungsbewegungen, Therap. Mo-natshefte, Jahrg. 23, 1909; W e s t m a n L. a. Ro-\ a t R., The analysis of liomid a. aromatic exlracts of cascara sagrada, J. of the Am. pharm. ass., v. VII, 1918.