cent substance in smanaca root has been identified (Mors & 
Ribeiro 1957). It had earlier been determined as gelseminic acid 
by Lenardson (1884) and as esculetin by Brandl (1895). This 
constituent is now known to be the aglycone scopoletin (6- 
methoxy-7-hydroxycoumarin) of the lactone glycoside scopo- 
lin. It is found in all parts of the plant and in several other 
species as well: Brunfelsia pauciflora (C. & S.) Benth. (re- 
ported as B. calycina var. macrantha (Lem.) Bailey & Raffill), 
B. brasiliensis (reported as B. ramosissima) and B. grandiflora 
D. Don. Machado de Campos (1964) found much smaller 
amounts of scopoletin in the seeds of B. uniflora and B. erandi- 
flora. This compound occurs in several other genera of Sol- 
anaceae including Atropa, Solanum and Lycopersicon. It may 
function as a regulator of growth processes in plants but is not 
known to be pharmacologically active in humans. 
With the exception of anatomical and pharmacognostic 
studies on manaca root (Hahmann, 1920; de Almeida Costa, 
1935), only one recent paper has appeared on the nature and 
action of the drug. Iyer e¢ al. (1977) conducted hippocratic 
screening in rats of whole root and extracts of Brunfelsia uni- 
flora (reported as B. Hopeana). Administered intraperitoni- 
ally, the whole root showed the following dose-related symp- 
toms: decrease in spontaneous motor activitiy, irregular respi- 
ration, paralysis of hind and forelegs, analgesia, mixed convul- 
sions, hypersensitivity to sound, increase in pupil size and 
slight diuresis. These symptoms, indicating CNS depressant 
activity, were concentrated in a chloroform extract (**F’’), the 
lethal dose of which was about half that of the whole root. The 
authors also showed that this fraction has marked anti-inflam- 
matory activity when compared with phenylbutazone in reduc- 
ing Carrageenin-induced pedal edema in rats. These workers 
are Currently undertaking a detailed investigation of the com- 
ponents of the chloroform extract. 
Currently, manaca root is fully recognized in the Brazilian 
pharmacopeia and is considered a valuable remedy in that 
country where folk medicine is still very important in rural 
areas. Like many poorly known drugs of plant origin, manacd 
has been generally discredited in the United States for ‘‘lack of 
convincing evidence of its usefulness’’ (Osol and Farrar, 1955). 
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