botany final revision (1)
Page 1: Botany
Mentha (Peppermint)
Origin: Dried leaves and flowering tops of Mentha piperita
Family: Labiatea
Uses: Stimulation, carminative, flavoring agents in confectionery, chewing gum, toothpaste, and mouthwash.
Active Constituents:
Volatile Oil: menthol, menthyl acetate, limonene, pinene, terpene, terpene ester.
Senna (Alexandrian and Indian Senna)
Origin: Dried leaflets of Cassia acutifolia and Cassia angustifolia
Family: Leguminosae
Uses: Laxative; stimulates muscular coat of the intestine without causing constipation.
Active Constituents:
Anthraquinone glycosides: sennosides A and B.
Mucilage, aloe-emodin, and flavonoids (kaempferol, kampferin, isorhamnetin)
Tea
Origin: Dried prepared leaves and buds of Thea sinensis
Family: Theaceae
Uses: Diuretic, CNS stimulation, delays the onset of arteriosclerosis.
Active Constituents:
Alkaloids: caffeine (trimethyl xanthine), theobromine, theophylline; flavonoids, catechins, polyphenols.
Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade)
Origin: Dried leaves of Atropa belladona
Family: Solanaceae
Uses: Mydriatic (dilates pupils), antispasmodic (smooth muscle relaxant), used pre-surgically to decrease secretions.
Active Constituents:
Tropane alkaloids: Atropine, hyoscine, volatile bases (pyridine, N-methylpyrroline).
Datura (Thorn Apple)
Origin: Dried leaves of Datura stramonium
Family: Solanaceae
Active Constituents:
Alkaloids: hyoscyamine and hyoscine.
Hyoscyamus muticus (Egyptian Henbane)
Origin: Dried leaves of Hyocyamus muticus
Family: Solanaceae
Active Constituents:
Tropane alkaloids: hyoscyamine and hyoscine.
Cherry Laurel
Origin: Dried leaves of Prunus laurocerasus
Family: Rosaceae
Uses: Sedative, used in killing bottles for insects.
Active Constituents:
Cyanogenic glycosides: prulaurasin, prunase enzyme.
Boldo
Origin: Dried prepared leaves of Peumus boldus
Family: Monimiaceae
Uses: Mild diuretic, aromatic stimulant, hepatic stimulant in jaundice.
Active Constituents:
Alkaloids: boldine, glycoside boldoglucine, resin, tannic acid.
Buchu
Origin: Dried leaves of Barosma betulina
Family: Rutaceae
Uses: Diuretic, anti-inflammatory for digestive disorders, urinary problems, and diabetes.
Active Constituents:
Volatile oil containing diosphenol and glycoside (Diosmin).
Coca
Origin: Dried leaves of Erythroxylum coca
Family: Erythroxylaceae
Uses: CNS stimulation, tonic, local anesthetic.
Active Constituents:
Alkaloids, cocaine, and other alkaloids like cinnamoyl cocaine.
Squill
Origin: Dried sliced fleshy scales of the bulb of Urginea maritima
Family: Liliaceae
Uses: Cardiac tonic and expectorant.
Active Constituents:
Cardiac aglycoside scillaren.
Digitalis (Foxglove)
Origin: Dried leaves of Digitalis purpurea
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Uses: Cardiotonic; increases contractility of cardiac muscle, effective for heart failure.
Active Constituents:
Cardiac glycosides (Purpurea A, B, Gitalin).
Sweet Basil
Origin: Dried leaves of Ocimum basilicum
Family: Labiatea
Uses: Digestive aid.
Active Constituents:
Volatile oil: methyl chavicol, cineol, fenchol.
Sweet Marjoram
Origin: Dried leaves of Origanum majorana
Family: Labiatea
Uses: Treatment of benign bronchial diseases and functional dyspepsia.
Active Constituents:
Volatile oils, terpinenes, terpineol.
Guava
Origin: Dried leaves of Psidium guajava
Family: Myrtaceae
Uses: Astringent and anti-septic for respiratory tract; treats cough.
Active Constituents:
Volatile oil and flavonoid quercetin.
Citrus
Origin: Dried leaves of Citrus aurantium
Family: Rutaceae
Uses: Diuretic and flavoring agent for respiratory infections.
Active Constituents:
Volatile oil: terpenes, citral, limonene.
Jabrondi
Origin: Dried leaflets of Pilocarpus microphyllus
Family: Rutaceae
Uses: Treatment of glaucoma; myotic effect.
Active Constituents:
Alkaloids: pilocarpine.
Eucalyptus
Origin: Dried leaves of Eucalyptus globulus
Family: Myrtaceae
Uses: Astringent, anti-septic; used in soaps and perfumes.
Active Constituents:
Volatile Oil: cineol, limonene.
Bearberry
Origin: Dried leaves of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Family: Ericaceae
Uses: Diuretic and antiseptic treating UTI.
Active Constituents:
Phenolic glycoside (arbutin).
Hamamelis (Witch Hazel)
Origin: Dried leaves of Hamamelis virginiana
Family: Hamamelidaceae
Uses: Astringent; hemostatic for sprains, bruises, and wounds.
Active Constituents:
Gallitannins, ellagitannins, and gallic acid.
Henna
Origin: Dried prepared leaves of Lawsonia alba
Family: Lythraceae
Uses: Antiseptic for skin, scalp; natural dye.
Active Constituents:
Colouring substance (lawsone), flavonoids, tannin.
Rosemary
Origin: Dried leaves and flowering tops of Rosmarinus officinalis
Family: Labiatea
Uses: Carminative and flavoring agents.
Active Constituents:
Volatile Oil: borneol, bornyl acetate.
Page 2: Histology
Epidermis and Cuticle
Structure: Anticlinal walls, cuticle present.
Stomata: Glandular and non-glandular hair types identified.
Mesophyll
Types: Palisade, bundle sheath, parenchyma.
Midrib
Special features: Collateral vascular bundle, cortex, pericycle, endodermis.
Belladonna
Dorsiventral, clavate striated (anisocytic hair), long stalk with club-shaped multicellular head.
Datura
Dorsiventral, smooth, anisocytic hair structure with multicellular head, crystals of calcium oxalate present.
Hyoscyamus Muticus (Egyptian Henbane)
Isobilateral, striated, and branched anisocytic hair structures identified.
Hyoscyamus Niger (European Henbane)
Dorsiventral with wavy smooth anisocytic hair.
Digitalis
Dorsiventral structure, Xylem and phloem, with distinct palisade formation.
Page 3: Hydrolysis
Cherry Laurel
Hydrolysis Products: Prulaurasin yields benzaldehyde, HCN, glucose.
Digitalis
Hydrolysis Products: A + rhamnose + glucose; Scillaren A yields proscillaridin A + glucose.
Buchu
Hydrolysis Products: Diosmin yields Diosmetin + glucose + rhamnose.
Page 4: Tests
Coca
Mayer's Test: Alcoholic extract with Mayer's reagent produces white precipitate.
Boldo
Identification: 1 g of powder mixed with 10 ml HCl produces intense red color with vanillin/HCl.
Tea
Evaporation test with 10% aqueous solution produces purple color with ammonia.
Bearberry
Vanillin/HCl solution results in carmine red color; FeCl3 produces bluish-black color.
Jabrondi
Test with H2SO4 and K2Cr2O7 solutions.
General Notes:
Large doses of tea can cause gastritis and nervous irritability due to caffeine's effect on the CNS.