Coto

COTO (Nectandra Coto Rusby, China Coto, Coto verum), a plant of the laurel family (Lauraceae); grows in Bolivia; its bark was first brought to Europe in 1873. In medicine, the bark of the plant and the glycoside cotoin extracted from it are used. Besides cotoin (1.5%), the bark also contains other glycosides (floroglucin derivatives), essential oil, resins, starch, gum, sugar, tannic and other acids (formic, acetic, butyric). In small doses, cotoin increases appetite, decreases intestinal tone, and weakens its so-called pendulum-like movements, which serve to mix intestinal contents; in large doses, it causes complete relaxation of intestinal musculature. The beneficial effect on digestion, absorption, and regeneration of damaged intestinal epithelium is explained by increased blood supply to the internal organs due to the dilation of their vessels by cotoin. Cotoin is absorbed only in the intestine, where it dissolves under the influence of bile and other digestive juices; it is completely excreted in urine in the form of compounds with sulfuric and glucuronic acids. Cotoin and preparations of the bark of C. are used for chronic intestinal dyspepsia, dysentery, diarrhea, and night sweats in tuberculosis patients. Contraindicated in intestinal hyperemia and in cases with a tendency to bleeding. Preparations: 1) Cortex Coto - 0.5 g three to four times a day; 2) Tinctura Coto - 10-20 drops several times a day; 3) Cotoinum verum [C₆H₄CO·C₆H₂(OH)₃OCH₃] - methyl ester of trioxybenzophenone, small yellow crystalline needles, odorless, with a sharp taste. Slightly soluble in cold water, somewhat more soluble in hot water, easily soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform. Aqueous solutions are yellowish in color, neutral reaction. Cotoin is given in doses of 0.05-0.1 g in powders, pills, and solutions several times a day.