184 BERBERIDACE,E 



BERBERIDACE^:. Barberry Family 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees with watery juice. A peculiarity of the leaves in the 

 principal genus of the order suggests the name barberry; these are usually beset 

 with spiny teeth, occasionally reduced to simple or branching spines (barbs). 

 Inflorescence various; solitary (Podophyllum), in racemes (Berberis), panicles, 

 cymes, or spikes. Flowers greenish (Caulophyllum) or white with outer greenish 

 bractlets (Podophyllum); fruit a berry or capsule (sometimes edible May apple). 



Synopsis of Drugs from the Berberidacea 



A. Rhizomes. B. Roots. C. Bark. 



*Caulophyllum, 160. Berberis Radix, 163. Berberis cortex, 



PODOPHYLLUM, 161. *Berberis, 165. 164. 



Jeffersonia, 162. 



PIG. 87. Caulophyllum Cross-section of rhizome. A. Epidermis. B. Parenchymatous tissue. 

 C. Phloem portion ot bundle. D, F. Medullary rays. E. Xylem portion of bundle. 



1 60. CAULOPHYLLUM. SQUAW ROOT. BLUECOHOSH. N.F. The rhizome and 

 roots of Caulophyl'lum thalictroi'des Linne'. Off. in U.S.P. 1890. Rhizome 

 crooked, of horizontal growth, about 100 mm. (4 in.) long, and 6 to 8 mm. (% 

 to % in.) thick; on the upper side are broad cup-shaped scars and short bent 

 branches having concave terminations; it is beset with numerous tough and 

 wiry light -brown rootlets matted together. Externally of a dull brown color, 

 internally whitish, with numerous narrow wood-wedges, sometimes in two 

 circles, inclosing a large pith. The rootlets have a much thicker bark and 

 a thick central woody cord. Nearly inodorous; taste slightly sweetish and 

 somewhat acrid. (Highly magnified starch grains of Caulophyllum, see Fig. 

 87.) Constituents: CAULOPHYLLINE. Resins, 12 per cent., tannin, starch, 

 gum, etc. Caulophylline is colorless, odorless, and almost tasteless, is not 

 precipitated by alkalies, and crystallizes with difficulty; many of its charac- 

 teristics make it appear as a proximate principle belonging to a new class of 

 bodies about which little is known. 



Preparation of Caulophyllin. Concentrate alcoholic tincture and add this .to 

 a large volume of water. Collect precipitate and dry in current of warm air. 



Caulophylline. Extract drug with 60 per cent, alcohol. Evaporate tincture 

 to a semi-solid. Add ferric hydrate and sodium bicarbonate to this residue and 

 extract the mixture with chloroform. The principle remains on the evaporation 

 of the solvent. Emmenagogue, diuretic, and antispasmodic; it has some reputation 

 in the treatment of rheumatism and as an expectorant in bronchitis. Dose: 5 

 to 30 gr. (0.3 to 2 Gm.). 



