Scammony

SCAMMONY (root and gum-resin, Gummi-resina), Scammonum, is obtained from the plant Convolvulus scammonia L., a bindweed growing and cultivated in Greece, Syria, and the Middle East; the length of the climbing stem reaches 1-2 m, and the roots up to 1 m in length and 5 cm in thickness. To obtain the gum-resin, the roots are exposed and incisions are made on them, from which the milky juice flows and then solidifies into a hard mass. To obtain the resin (Resina Scammonii), the crushed roots are extracted with 90% alcohol; the resulting dry resin appears as a grayish-brown hard mass, yellowish when broken, with a characteristic sharp taste. It easily turns into powder and forms an emulsion when triturated with water. It consists mainly of glycosides (old names: jalapin, scammonin) of jalapic acid and its methyl ester, and also contains the glycoside scopoletin, dihydroxycinnamic acid, and small amounts of essential oil. In old medicines (since the time of Dioscorides), S. was used as a laxative (laxativum) in doses of 0.05-0.15, and in large doses as a drasticum; the highest single dose is 0.2, and daily 0.5. The effect of S., however, is not always the same, because the amount of alkalis in the intestine and especially bile may be significant. In former times, preparations were made from it: Electuarium Scam., Pilulae, Pulvis, etc.