Pharmacognosy Lab: Anthraquinones and Related Tests

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the pharmacognosy lecture notes covering anthraquinones, their properties, related drugs, and identification tests.

Anthraquinones

Glycosides with aglycone moieties related to anthracene, acting as purgative drugs.

Cathartics

Agents that increase the tone of the smooth muscle in the large intestine and stimulate secretion of water and electrolytes.

Laxative dependence

A condition resulting from long-term use of stimulant laxatives, leading to loss of normal bowel function.

Carmine

A bright red pigment obtained from carminic acid, derived from the cochineal insect.

St. John's Wort

Herbal antidepressant derived from Hypericum perforatum, used for mild to moderate depression.

Borntrager’s Test

A colorimetric test used to identify O-glycosides of anthraquinone by adding dilute HCl and extracting with nonpolar solvents.

Modified Borntrager’s Test

An adaptation of Borntrager’s Test, using oxidation to detect C-glycosides that do not respond to the original test.

Hypericin

A constituent of St. John's Wort known for its antidepressant properties.

Phototoxicity

Skin reaction caused by exposure to sunlight after using certain medications, such as St. John's Wort.

Oxidative hydrolysis

A reaction involving both oxidation and hydrolysis, often used to convert reduced forms of compounds to their detectable forms.