ephedra - alkaloid source, macroscopy,microscopy, constituents,uses

ephedra- alkaloid V th semester b pharm

1. ALKALOIDS EPHEDRA

2. Ma-Huang SYNONYM

3. Dried young stems of Ephedra gerardiana and Ephedra nebrodensis , family – Gnetaceae ( Ephedraceae ) Ephedra should contain not less than 1% of total alkaloids calculated as ephedrine. BIOLOGICAL SOURCE

4. Macroscpy Colour - stems are woody, grey to greenish Odour – odourless Taste- bitter Size- 5mm in diameter, 3 to 3.5 cm Shape- cylindrical Internodes are present, thin stems

5. Microscopy

6. Amino alkaloids Ephedrine, nor ephedrine, n-methyl ephedrine, pseudo- ephedrine etc. Chemical constituents

7. Ephedrine + water + dil. HCL Then treated with copper sulphate and sodium hydroxide Violet colour Shaken with solvent ether Organic layer shows purple and aqueous layer shows bluecolour Chemical test

8. Sympathomimetic effect Bronchodialator in asthma, allergy like hay fever Compared to adrenaline the onset of action is slow, but effect is prolonged Used to correct low BP Uses

9. E. sinica E. intermedia E. major E . alata Others include Sida cordifolia , Taxus baccata Other species and allied drugs