Medicinal Plants and Pharmacognosy Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the origin, active constituents, uses, and chemical tests of medicinal plants mentioned in the lecture notes.

Eugenia aromatic

The botanical source of Clove flower bud, belonging to the family Myrtaceae.

Eugenol

The primary volatile oil constituent of Clove, which produces white needle-shaped crystals of potassium eugenate when treated with $KOH$.

Hibiscus sabdariffa

The botanical origin of Hibiscus (Karkadah), known for containing anthocyanins like hibiscin.

Anthocyanin Test

A chemical test where the substance changes to blue with $KOH$, blue precipitate with lead acetate, and green color with concentrated $NH_4OH$.

Marticaria chamomile

The botanical source of German chamomile, which contains a blue volatile oil mainly composed of chamazulene.

Pyrethrins

Active esters ($1-2\%$) found in Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum cinerarifolium) used as insecticides.

Santonin

A bitter principle found in Santonica (Artmisia cina) used as an anthelmintic for round worms, which gives a red color in the Cazilback test.

Linamarin

A cyanogenic glycoside found in Linseed (Linum usitatissimum) that releases $HCN$ upon hydrolysis.

Guignard paper test

A test for cyanogenic glycosides where yellow sodium-picrate paper turns red due to the formation of sodium-isopurpurate.

Trigonella foenum-graecum

The botanical origin of Fenugreek, characterized by a rhomboidal shape with a longitudinal furrow and containing the alkaloid Trigonelline.

Strychnos nux-vomica

The source of Nux-Vomica (poison nut), containing indole alkaloids like Strychnine and Brucine.

Strychnine Test

A chemical identification test where the addition of Mandalin reagent produces a violet color.

Brucine Test

A chemical identification test where the addition of fuming nitric acid produces an orange red color.

Myristica fragrans

The botanical source of Nutmeg Kernel, which is often lime-coated to prevent insect infestation.

Sinigrin

A thio-glycoside found in Black Mustard (Brassica nigra) that produces Allyl isothiocyanate upon reaction with myrosinase.

Cinchona succirubra

The botanical source of Cinchona Bark, containing totaquine alkaloids like Quinine and Quinidine.

Quinine

An alkaloid derived from Cinchona bark used specifically as an anti-malarial agent.

Quinidine

An alkaloid derived from Cinchona bark used in the treatment of cardiac fibrillation.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum

The botanical source of Cinnamon bark, which is characterized as an 'Inner bark/Compound quill'.

Quercus infectoria

The tree species that produces Aleppo Galls as pathological outgrowths due to the deposition of eggs by Cynips gallotinctoria.

Picrasmin

A bitter amaroid found in Quassia wood (Picrasma excels) used as a vermicide against thread worms via enema.

Vitali test

A chemical test used to identify tropane mydriatic alkaloids (Hyoscyamine, Hyoscine, Atropine) which results in a violet color.

Sennosides A, B, C and D

Anthraquinone glycosides found in Senna leaflets used as a laxative or purgative.

Born-traeger's test

A chemical test for anthraquinone glycosides that results in a rose red color in the aqueous layer.

Digitalis lanata

The botanical source of Digitalis (Foxglove), which contains cardiac glycosides like Lanatosides used for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).

Keller kiliani test

A test for Digitoxose where the interface turns reddish brown and the upper layer becomes bluish green.

Eucalyptol (cineol)

The main volatile oil component of Eucalyptus globulus, used as an expectorant or in cigarettes for asthma.

Rosmarinus officinalis

The botanical source of Rosemary, which contains volatile oils and catechol tannins and is used as a counter irritant.