KALADANA 177 



arched back. They are dull black, about 5 mm. long and 3 mm. 

 wide ; the hilum is distinct as a brown, slightly hairy, depressed 

 spot. A transverse section shows plaited cotyledons in which small, 

 slightly darker resin cells may be seen. The taste is at first not 

 marked, but is subsequently acrid. 



Constituents. Kaladana contains about 14 per cent, of fatty oil, 

 about 8 per cent, of resin and a little tannin, mucilage, &c. The 

 resin, which is the most important constituent, is insoluble in ether 

 and is probably identical with the ether-insoluble resin of jalap. 



Uses. The seeds are much used in India as a cheap and efficient 

 laxative. 



Substitutes. According to Fliickiger and Hanbury 1 a variety of kaladana 

 closely resembling the official but about twice as large are used in India. Lately 

 (1920) the seeds of Ipomcea muricata, Jacquin, have been imported as kaladana ; 

 these are imported into India from Persia and are largely used in Bombay for 

 the same purpose ; they resemble kaladana in shape but are less angular and 

 dark brown in colour ; they are also much larger, measuring 7 to 8 mm. in length 

 and about 5 mm. in width ; they are occasionally mixed with the seeds of Acacia 

 arabica, Willdenow (N.O. Leguminosce) which closely resemble them in size 

 and colour, but are flattened-oval with a darker areola in the middle of each 

 flat side. Another variety recently in commerce is smaller than the official, 

 being only about 4 mm. long, dark grey, with a minutely but distinctly pitted 

 surface; this variety may contain a small admixture of a nearly black Con- 

 volvulaceous seed with a smooth surface and also of the small, yellowish brown, 

 flat seeds of Crotalaria juncea, Linne (N.O. Leguminosce). The seeds of Clitorea 

 terneata, Linne (N.O. Leguminosce) have also been found in kaladana : they 

 resemble vetch seeds and are mottled green and brown. 



ISPAGHULA 



(Ispaghula, Ispaghul, Spogel Seeds) 



Source, &C. Ispaghul consists of the dried seeds of Plantago 

 ovata, Forskal (N.O. Plantaginece) , a herb widely distributed in the 

 Punjab, Sind and Persia. 



Description. The seeds are about 2 to 3 mm. long and 1 to 1-5 mm. 

 wide, boat-shaped, pale greyish brown in colour, usually with a 

 pinkish tinge ; on the convex surface there is a small, elongated, 

 brown spot ; on the concave surface is the hilum covered with a 

 thin, whitish membrane ; when soaked in water the seed coat swells 

 and the seeds become surrounded with a transparent, colourless 

 mucilage free from taste and odour. One part of the seeds with twenty 

 of water forms a thick, tasteless jelly. 



1 Pharmacographia, p. 403. 



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