34 " BERBERIDE^. 



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

 of a c^dindrical woody stem from J 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 

 parench3^me. The transverse section of the stem shows it to be divided 

 by 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 

 layers of flat corky cells and sclerenchyme, sometimes of a yellow 

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

 Cissampelos Pareira (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 anci other exhausting diseases, in secondary syphilitic 

 aflfections and chronic rheumatism. 



Substitute — Tinospora crispa Miers, an allied species occurring in 

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

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



BEKBERIDE^. 



CORTEX BERBERIDIS INDICUS. 



Indian Barberry Bark. 



Botanical Origin — This drug is allowed in the Phai^macopceia of 

 India to be taken indifferently from three Indian species of Berberis^ 

 which are the following : — 



1. Berberis 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. 



1 Bengal Dtspematorif, 1842. 198. /rarfjm (1855), also Hooker's J7ora o/5n<M 



; Pharm. of India, 1868. 9. India, i. (1872) 108. 



^ For remarks on the Indian species of * Fig. in Bentley and Trimen, Med. 



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



