Rhamni

R. Succi defaecati baccarum maturaram rhamni partes duas. 

CASCARA, Rhamni purshiani cortex Cascara bark is more widely used than Frangula as a laxative in the USA since the trees of Rhamnus purshianus DC, family Rhamnaceae, are cultivated in Northwestern USA and Canada. Cascara has also been known as Cascara Sagrada from the Spanish name for sacred bark. Like the closely related Frangula bark, fresh Cascara bark contains reduced emodin-based glycosides. In order to convert these to milder oxidised forms the bark must either be stored for 1 year or heat treated. 

The primary active ingredients of cascara sagrada include cascarosides A, B, C, and D, but barbaloin, chrysaloin, chryophanol, emodin, and aloe-emodin are also present (Tyler, 1994 Anonymous, 1996). The anthrone glucofrangulin is present in the cortex of the European species Rhamni frangula (De Witte, 1993). As with senna and aloe constituents, these anthrones produce an active secretion of water and electrolytes within the lumen of the small intestine. In addition, the anthrones inhibit absorption of water and electrolytes from the large intestine. This causes an increase in the volume of bowel contents, and strengthens the dilatation pressure in the intestine to stimulate peristalsis (Anonymous, 1996). 

Fig. 4 Rhamni purshiani cortex Ca,scarac sagradae cortex...

Rhamni frangulae cortex Alder buckthorn bark Rhamnu.s frangula i.. Rhamnaceae DAB to, PhEur II,... 

Rhamni carthartici fructus (4). Four to five orange-red zones arc delectable in the R, range of glucofrangulin (R, 0.25), frangulin (R, — 0.8) and above. 

Frangulae fructus (3) two yellow orange fluorescent flavonol glycosides (R 0.15/0.45). Rhamni cathartic fructus (4) a band of promment orange-yellow fluorescent xanthorhamnins (triglycosides, see 2.5 Drug List) between the start and R, 0.25, and between R, — 0.75 up to the solvent front. Xanthorhamnin (R, 0.2) is found in (3) and (4). 

Cape Aloe jB = Cortex Frangulae (7 = Cortex Rhamni Purshianae D = Rhizoma Rhei E = Folia Sennae. The spot colours quoted were obtained with the untreated chromatogram by inspection in UV light... 

A quaternary alkaloid was isolated by precipitation with Maeyer s reagent. The iodide, C42H52O9N2I2 (mp 235°) and the nitrate (mp 241°) were obtained in a pure state. Similar alkaloids were found in C. rhamni-folius H.B. K., C. multicostatus Muell. Arg. (C. xanthochloros Croiz.), and C. speciosus Muell. Arg. (62). 

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