Pharmacognosy: Gums, Glycosides, Lipids, Volatile Oils, and Alkaloids

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering plant-derived gums, glycosides, lipids, volatile oils, resins, and alkaloids including their scientific names, constituents, and pharmaceutical uses.

Indian gum / Ghatti gum

Derived from Anogeissus latifolia; used as a substitute for acacia.

Tragacanth

Derived from Astragalus gummifer; contains Bassorin and tragacanthin. Used as a suspending and emulsifying agent.

Acacia / Gum Arabic

Derived from Acacia senegal; contains Arabic acid and acts as a suspending agent.

Karaya gum / Sterculia gum

Derived from Sterculia urens; used as a laxative (Movicol), emulsifying agent, and dental adhesive.

Sodium alginate / Algin

Derived from Macrocystis porifera; contains Alginic acid and mannuronic acid. Used as a suspending agent.

Carrageenan / Irish moss

Derived from Chondrus crispus or Gigartina mamillosa; used as a thickener.

Agar / Japanese isinglass

Derived from Gelidium cartilagineum or Gracilaria confervoides; contains Agarose and agaropectin. Used as a stiffening agent.

Danish agar / Furcellaran

Derived from Furcellaria fastigiata; contains Carrageenan and acts as a suspending agent.

Psyllium

Derived from Plantago psyllium, P. indica, or P. ovata; used as a bulk forming agent, suspending agent, and emulsifying agent.

Locust bean / Carob pulp

Derived from Ceratonia siliqua; used as a chocolate substitute, thickener, and stabilizer.

Xanthan Gum

Derived from Xanthomonas campestris; used in toothpaste and ointments.

Digitalis

From Digitalis lanata or Digitalis purpurea; contains Digoxin and Digitoxin used for CHF.

Convallaria / Lily of the Valley Root

From Convallaria majalis; contains Convallatoxin.

Apocynum / Black Indian Hemp

From Apocynum cannabinum; contains Cyamarin.

Adonis / Pheasant’s eye

From Adonis vernalis; contains Adonitoxin and Cyamarin.

Strophanthus

Sources include Strophanthus kombe (K-strophanthin) and Strophanthus gratus (G-strophanthin).

Squill / Squill bulb

Urginea maritima; regular Squill serves as an expectorant, emetic, cardiotonic, and diuretic, while Red squill is used as rat poison.

Dioscorea / Yam

Dioscorea floribunda; contains Botogenin and Diosgenin. Precursor of glucocorticoids.

Sarsaparilla root

Smilax aristolochiaefolia; contains Smilagenin, Sarsasapogenin, and Parillin. Used for inflammatory diseases.

Ginseng

Panax ginseng; contains Panaxosides, Ginsenosides, and Chikusetsusaponins. Used as an adaptogen, aphrodisiac, and for diabetes and anemia.

Glycyrrhiza / Licorice root

Glycyrrhiza glabra; contains Glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid. Used as an anti-inflammatory and for Addison’s disease.

Cascara sagrada / Sacred bark

Rhamnus pursianus; contains Cascarosides A/B (barbaloin) and C/D (chrysaloin). Used as a stimulant cathartic.

Frangula / Buckthorn Bark

Rhamnus frangula; contains Frangulin. Component of Movicol.

Aloe

From Aloe barbadensis, A. spicata, or A. vera; contains Barbaloin and chrysophanic acid. Used for burns.

Rhubarb

From Rheum officinale, R. palmatum, or R. rhaponticum; contains Rhein anthrones.

Senna / Slimming tea

From Cassia acutifolia or Cassia angustifolia; contains Sennosides A/B (dianthrone).

Chrysarobin

From Andira araroba; contains Anthralin. Used as a keratolytic.

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva ursi; contains Arbutin. Used as a diuretic, astringent, and weak urinary antiseptic.

Salicin

From Salix purpurea and S. fragilis; yields Saligenin (salicin alcohol).

Black haw bark

Viburnum prunifolium; contains Salicin and isovaleric acid. Used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic.

Vanilla

From Vanilla planifolia or V. tahitensis; contains Vanillin. Used as a flavorant and spice.

Grapefruit

Citrus paradisi; contains Bergamottin and Bergapten. Acts as an enzyme inhibitor.

Tonka

Dipteryx odorata; contains Coumarin, which is an anticoagulant.

Melilotus officinalis

Contains Dicoumarol, an anticoagulant.

Cantharides

Cantharis vesicatoria; contains Cantharidin. Used as an irritant, aphrodisiac, and topical treatment for warts.

Psoralens

Ammi majus; contains Methoxsalen. Used for repigmentation in vitiligo.

Milk thistle

Silybum marinum; contains Silibinin and silymarin. Used as a hepatoprotective.

Soy isoflavone / Balatong

Glycine soja; contains Genistein. Prevents atherosclerosis.

Cranberry

Vaccinium macrocarpon; contains Procyanidin. Prevents adhesion of UTI causing microbes.

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba; contains Ginkgolides and bilolabides. Used for memory enhancements.

Cassava

Manihot esculenta; contains mannihotoxin and linamarin. Toxic.

Steviosides

From Stevia rebaudiana; $200$ to $300 \times$ as sweet as sugar.

Fishberry / Ligtang

Anamirta cocculus; contains Picrotoxin. Used as a fish toxin.

Hamamelis leaf / Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana; contains Hamamelitannin. Used as an astringent and for hemorrhoids.

Nutgall

Quercus infectoria; formed by Cynips tinctoria. Source of Tannic acid and gallic acid for tanning and dyeing.

Castor oil

Ricinus communis; contains Ricin. Used as a plasticizer in flexible collodion.

Theobroma oil

Theobroma cacao; contains Theobromine, Caffeine, and Oleopalmitostearin. Used as a suppository base.

Saw palmetto

Serenoa repens; contains Lauric acid. Used for treatment of BPH.

Cottonseed oil

Gossypium hirsutum; contains Gossypol (toxic). Used as a solvent and male contraceptive.

Lanolin

Wool of the sheep (Ovis aries); contains Cholesterol and isocholesterol. Water-absorbable emollient base.

Cod liver oil

Gadus morhua; the only liquid fat. Source of Vitamin A and D; antirachitic.

Spermaceti

Physeter macrocephalus; a cetyl ester wax from an animal source.

Beeswax / Yellow wax

Apis mellifera; contains Myricyl palmitate as a stiffening agent.

Carnauba wax

Copernicia prunifera; contains Myricyl cerotate. Used as a tablet coating agent.

Jojoba oil

Simmondsia chinensis; the only liquid wax.

Turpentine oil

Pinus palustris; contains $\alpha\text{-pinene}$ and $\beta\text{-pinene}$. Used as a counterirritant.

Peppermint oil

Mentha piperita; contains Menthol. Used as a carminative and counterirritant.

Cinnamon

Cinnamomum loureirii; contains Cinnamaldehyde. Used for flavor and as a carminative.

Camphor

Cinnamomum camphora; natural form is (+)-camphor. Used as an antipruritic and counterirritant.

Spearmint

Mentha spicata; contains (-)-carvone. Used as flavor and carminative.

Clove

Eugenia caryophyllus or Syzygium aromaticum; contains Eugenol. Used as a dental analgesic.

Creosote

Fagus grandiflora; contains Guaiacol and creosol. Precursor of guaifenesin.

Nutmeg oil / Myristica oil

Myristica fragrans; contains Safrole and methoxysafrole. Hallucinogenic agent.

Eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus globulus; contains Cineole, cajuputol, and eucalyptol. Used as flavor, antiseptic, and diaphoretic.

Gaultheria / Wintergreen

Gaultheria procumbens; contains Methyl salicylate. Used as an antirheumatic.

Podophyllum / Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum; contains Podophyllotoxin, $\alpha\text{-peltatin}$, and $\beta\text{-peltatin}$. Precursor for Etoposide and Tenoposide.

Mastic

Pistacia lentiscus; contains $\alpha\text{-resin}$ (mastichic acid) and $\beta\text{-resin}$ (masticin). Used as a breath sweetener and dental varnish.

Kava-kava

Piper methysticum; contains Yangonin and kawain. Skeletal muscle relaxant.

Cannabis / Indian hemp

Cannabis sativa; contains Hashish (tetrahydrocannabinol). Used as a euphoric.

Ginger

Zingiber officinale; contains Bisabolene, zingiberene, and zingiberol.

Myrrh

Commiphora molmol; contains $\alpha$, $\beta$, and $\gamma$ commiphoric acids. Used as embalming material and astringent.

Asafetida / Devil’s dung

Ferula assafoetida; contains Isobutylpropanyl disulfide. Used as a laxative and antispasmodic.

Balsam of Peru

Myroxylon pereirae; contains Cinnamein, benzyl cinnamate, and benzyl benzoate. Local protectant and parasiticide.

Benzoin

Styrax benzoin; Sumatra variety contains balsamic acids/esters, Siam variety contains coniferyl benzoate.

Colchicum / Autumn crocus

Colchicum autumnale; contains Colchicine. Decreases tubulin migration; used for gout.

Khat / Abyssinian Tea

Catha edulis; contains Cathinone. Amphetamine-like.

Belladonna

Atropa belladonna; contains Hyoscyamine and atropine. Used as an anticholinergic.

Talumpunay / Thornapple

Datura metel or D. fastuosa; rich source of Scopolamine used for motion sickness.

Duboisia

Duboisia myoperoides; chief source of Atropine.

Cocaine

Derived from Erythroxylon coca; used as a local anesthetic.

Cinchona / Peruvian bark

Cinchona succirubra; contains Quinidine (antiarrhythmic) and Quinine (antimalarial).

Happy Tree

Camptotheca acuminata; contains Camptothecin, a topoisomerase inhibitor.

Ipecac

Cephaelis ipecacuanha; contains Emetine and cephaline. Used as a local emetic.

Opium / Gum opium

Papaver somniferum; source of morphine, codeine, noscapine, and papaverine.

Hydrastis / Goldenseal

Hydrastis canadensis; contains Hydrastine and berberine. Astringent in inflammation.

Rauwolfia

Rauvolfia serpentina; contains Reserpine. Used as a hypotensive sedative.

Catharanthus / Vinca / Chichirica

Catharanthus roseus; contains Vinblastine and vincristine. Used as an antineoplastic.

Physostigma / Calabar Bean

Physostigma venenosum; contains Physostigmine (eserine). Used as an anticholinesterase.

Ergot / Rye

Claviceps purpurea; contains Ergonovine (oxytoxic) and Dihydroergotamine (for migraine).

Pilocarpus / Jaborandi

Pilocarpus jaborandi; contains Pilocarpine. Treatment for glaucoma.

Mate / Paraguay tea

Ilex paraguariensis; used as a laxative, diaphoretic, and diuretic.

Sapodilla plum / Chico

Manilkara zapota; contains Chicle, used as a base in chewing gum.