S^ BERBERIDE^. 



As found in the bazaars the drug occurs as short transverse segments 

 of a cylindrical woody stem from | of an inch up to 2 inches in 

 diameter. They exhibit a shrunken appearance, especially those derived 

 from the younger stems, and are covered with a smooth, translucent, 

 shrivelled bark which becomes dull and rugose with age. Many of the 

 pieces are marked with warty prominences and the scars of adventitious 

 roots. The outer layer which is easily detached covers a shrunken 

 parenchyme. The transverse section of the stem shows it to be divided 

 b}^ about 12 to 14 meduallry rays into the same number of wedge- 

 shaped woody bundles having very large vessels, but no concentric 

 structure. The drug is inodorous but has a very bitter taste. The 

 root is stated by O'Shaughnessy' to be large, soft, and spongy. 



Microscopic Structure— The suberous coat consists of alternating 

 layei's of flat corky cells and sclerenchyme, sometimes of a yellow 

 colour. The structure of the central part reminds one of that of 

 Cissampelos Fareira (p. 28), like which it is not divided into concentric 

 zones. The woody rays which are sometimes intersected by parenchyme, 

 are surrounded by a loose circle of arched bundles of liber tissue. 



Chemical Composition — No analysis worthy of the name has 

 been made of this drug, and the nature of its bitter principle is wholly 

 unknown. We have had no material at our disposal sufficient for 

 chemical examination' 



Uses— Gulancha is reputed to be tonic, antiperiodic and diuretic. 

 According to Waring^ it is useful in mild forms of intermittent fever, in 

 debility after fevers and other exhausting diseases, in secondary syphilitic 

 affections and chronic rheumatism. 



_ * 



Substitute — Tinospora crispa Micrs, an allied species occurring m 

 Silhet, Pegu, Java, Sumatra, and the Phillipines, possesses similar pro- 

 perties, and is highly esteemed in the Indian Archipelago as a febrifuge- 



BERBERIDE^. 



CORTEX BERBERIDIS INDICUS. 



Indian Barberry Bark. 



Botanical Origin— This drug is allowed in the PJiarmacojm^ ^l 

 India to be taken indifferently from three Indian s'pecies of Berheris 

 which are the following : — 



1. Berheris aristata DC, a variable species occurring in the temper- 

 ate regions of the Himalaya at 6000 to 10,000 feet elevation, also found 

 in the Nilghiri mountains and Ceylon.'' 



^ 2. B. Lycium Royle, an erect, rigid shrub found in dry, hot situa- 

 tions of the western part of the Himalaya range at 3000 to 9000 feet 

 above the sea-level. 



I Bengal Dispematory, 1842. 198. Indka (1855), also Hooker's Flora of BriUs^* 



- Pharm. of India m\8. 9. India, i. (1872) 108. ,, , 



3 For remarks on the Indian species of '« Fig. in Bentley and Trim en, i/"*- 



Berheris, see Hooker and Thomson's Flora Plants, part 25. 



