Physostigma venunosum

Submitted by:

Jaideep Sarkar

The Calabar Bean – Physostigma venenosum

•

BIOLOGICAL SOURCE

Dried ripe seed of  Physostigma venenosum,

Family Leguminosae , not less than 0.15% alkaloid

Physostigmine.

CULTIVATION

1. It is a perineal, woody climber, grows on banks of streams.

2. It has papilionaceous type flower, legume fruit having 15cm length.

3. Each legume contains 2-3 seeds.

COLLECTION

1. Collected in seed form from plant when 1-2 years.

2. It is then dried in under sun or fire.

3. Then packed in lose container

PROCESSING Seeds are dried , powdered and sieved

Extracted by continuous percolation with 95% ethanol

Solvent remove by distillation

Add water to separate fatty layer

Add Na2CO3 to lower aqueous layer

Extract with ether

Etherical extract concentrated to small volume

Wash with 5% H2SO4

Add Sodium Salicylate to this solution

Physostigmine is obtained as crystals

Commercial Varieties

1. Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus)

2. Phaseolus muttferous

Chemical constituents

Physostigmine => Eserine, Eseramine, Isophysostigmine, Physominine, Geneserine, Calabatine

Physostigmine or Eserine

Substitute

1. Mucuna ureus

2. Cali nuts or Cali beans

Adulterant

1. Palm seeds2. Seeds of Mucuna

Uses

1. Cholinergic substituent,

2. antispasmodic,

3. rheumatoid arthritis,

4. fibrocytis,

5. glaucoma,

6. veterinary medicines for horses in coelic pain

N C O

OCH3

H

N

N

CH3

CH3

CH3 C O

O

CH2 CH2 N+

CH3

CH3

CH3

Chemical tests

1) Sample + 0.5% KOH= Deep yellow colour- Physostigmine present

2) Physostigmine + K4FeCN6 + FeCl3= Intense blue colour- Physostigmine present

3) Sample solution + light/heat= Red colour- Physostigmine present

 

REFERENCES

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indole

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabar bean

3) http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/ calbea05.html

4 ) http://chestofbooks.com/health/materia-medica-drugs/Textbook-Materia-Medica/Calabar-Beans-Semina-Physostigmatis.html

5) http://www.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http:// plants.usda.gov/gallery/standard/phve11_001_shp.jpg&imgrefurl=http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile%3Fsymbol%3DPHVE11&usg=__HlwQFMhPYbi0pZmg5bDXZ5KrHg8=&h=

6) http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-50-CALABAR%20BEAN.aspx?activeIngredientId=50&activeIngredientName=CALABAR%20BEAN