1. Drugs acting on Nervous System
Ephedra
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2. DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : R.D.L.P.Christian
Designation : Lecturer in pharmacy
Branch : Pharmacy
Institute : GPW, Srikakulam(088)
Year : I year
Subject : Pharmacognosy
Subject Code : PH-103
Topic : Drugs acting on Nervous System
Sub-Topic : Ephedra
Duration : 50 min.
Teaching Aids : PPT, Photographs
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3. Recap In the last class we discussed about The CNS plant drug WITHANIA
Withania contains Steroidal alkaloids and steroid
lactones which are having a variety of activities
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4. Objectives On completion of this lesson you would be able to
learn about
The monograph of the CNS Drug
EPHEDRA
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5. Known to Unknown Have you seen Asthma patient?
Can you name some drugs used for Asthma?
Don’t you know that the alkaloid from Ephedra stem cure Asthma?
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6. Ephedra
Fig.33.1 Ephedra herb
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7. Syn: Ma-Haung, Ephedra stem
Biological Source :
Dried young stem of
Ephedra gerardiana (India)
Ephedra nebrodensis (India)
Ephedra sinica (China)
Ephedra equisetina (China)
Family : Ephedraceae
Geographical Source:
China, Pakistan, Australia,
Kenya Spain, Yugoslavia
Northwest part of India
Fig.33.2 Ephedra stem
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8. Cultivation, Collection, Preparation
Cultivated at an altitude of m
Propagated by seeds, layers or divisions of root stocks
Seeds are sown in early spring
Spacing 5cm between two plants and 1m between two rows
4 year plants are collected and extracted for alkaloids
Alkaloid content maximum in autumn, when plant is dark in colour.
Twigs are dried in Sun
Fig.33.3 Ephedra herb
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9. Morphological Characters
Ephedra is a Gymnospermous plant
Stems are woody, cylindrical, grey to greenish colour, about 5mm thick
Shows internodes at a distance of about 3-3.5cm
Bears scales leaves in a whorl of 2
Bears a terminal bud
Male spikes are solitary, ovate, sessile and crowded
Fig.33.4 Ephedra herb
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10. Chemical Constituents
Ephedra contains Amino alkaloids
Ephedrine
Nor - Ephedrine
N - methyl Ephedrine
Pseudo Ephedrine
Nor pseudo - ephedrine
Fig.33.5 Ephedra herb
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11. Chemical Tests Ephedrine dissolved in water and HCl CuSO4 & NaOH
Violet red colour
Shaken with solvent ether
Organic layer (Purple)
Aqueous layer (Blue)
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12. Uses Ephedra shows Sympathomimetic activity
Used as a Bronchodilator in Asthma
In allergic conditions like Hay fever, Bronchitis, Whooping cough
To correct low B.P because of its peripheral
contraction of arterioles
Ephedrine shows prolonged action than adrenaline
as it is slowly hydrolysed by MAO
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13. Allied Species Ephedra intermedia (India & Pakistan) Ephedra major
Ephedra helryetica
Ephedra distachya
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14. The CNS Plant drug EPHEDRA
Summary
In this class we discussed about
The CNS Plant drug EPHEDRA
Ephedra contains Amino alkaloids
Having Sympathomimetic activity
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15. Quiz 1. The active constituents in Ephedra are a) Glycosides
b) Saponins
c) Resins
d) Alkaloids
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16. Quiz 2. Ephedra alkaloids are having a) Sympatholytic activity
b) Sympathomimetic activity
c) Cholinergic activity
d) None of the above
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17. Frequently Asked Questions
1. Write the botanical source and morphological
characters of Ephedra
2. Write the chemical constituents and uses of
Ephedra
3. Mention the botanical source, chemical
constituents and uses of a plant yielding
Alkaloids
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