Emetine bismuth iodide

A method for the estimation of the total alkaloids and of non-phenolic alkaloids (emetine fraction) is given in the British Pharmacopoeia, 1932, Addendum VI, which requires the drug to contain not less than 2 per cent, of alkaloids, of which at least 55 per cent, must be non-phenolic bases, calculated as emetine. The British Pharmacopoeia also gives an assay process for emetine in emetine bismuth iodide, the form in which the drug is chiefly used in medicine it is required to contain not less than 25 and not more than 28 per cent, of emetine. In the United States Pharmacopoeia, XIII, both Cephcelis Ipecacuanha and C. acuminata are recognised and must contain not less than 2 per cent, of ether-soluble alkaloids. 

Kurchi bark is principally used in India as a remedy for amoebic dysentery, and in recent years there has been a revival of medical interest in the drug in this eonneetion. It is generally used in the form of a bark extract but, in imitation of emetine bismuth iodide, kurchi bismuth iodide, consisting of the bismuth iodides of the mixed alkaloids of the bark, has also been used. On the pharmaceutical side Datta and Bal have studied the pharmacognosy of the bark and a method of alkaloidal assay has been devised by Schroff and Dhir, who have also described a process for the preparation of kurchi bismuth iodide, a product for which they, and also Mukherjee and Dutta, have provided methods of assay. 

Therapeutic Uses of Ipecacuanha Alkaloids. Emetine is used in medicine as an emetic, and in small doses as an expectorant but for the latter purpose ipecacuanha itself, or one of its galenical preparations, is generally used. Emetine is chiefly of interest as a remedy for amoebic dysentery owing to its direct toxic action on Entamceba histolytica, for which purpose it is employed as the hydrochloride for injection, or in one of the insoluble forms, such as emetine bismuth iodide, for oral administration. Methods devised by Dobell et al. have been much used for testing amoebicidal agents in vitro, and show that emetine is much more toxic to Entamceba histolytica than its stereoisomeride woemetine, or than A -methylemetine or 0-methylpsychotrine, aU of which have been tried clinically and found inactive. Pyman and his collaborators have synthesised for trial as amoebicides four series of substanees, of which typical examples are represented by formulae A, B (and B ), C and D. Representatives of type A... 

Emetine and bismuth iodide. The B.P, standardises this complex iodide on its emetine and bismuth contents. 

Tablets of Emetine and Bismuth Iodide, B.P. Usually contain 1 grain.

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