JALAP 355 



slopes of the Mexican Andes. The roots are exported from Tampico 

 (a town on the Gulf of Mexico, about 200 miles north of Vera Cruz), 

 whence it derives its name. This root, which frequently appears on 

 the London market, is distinguished by its irregular shape and 

 remarkable, convoluted surface, which does not exhibit the small 

 transverse scars characteristic of true (Vera Cruz) jalap. It yields 

 about 10 per cent, of resin, which is distinguished from the resin of 

 true jalap by its complete solubility in ether. This resin (tampicin) 

 is probably identical with the ether-soluble resin of jalap and 

 scammony. 



Orizaba jalap (light, woody, stalk, or male jalap), is produced 

 by Ipomoea, orizabensis , Ledanois. (See below.) 



ORIZABA JALAP ROOT 



(Mexican Scammony, Ipomoese Radix) 



Source, &C. Orizaba jalap root is obtained from Ipomosa 

 orizabensis, Ledanois, a Convolvulaceous plant growing near Orizaba 

 in the Mexican Andes (about 65 miles south-west of Vera Cruz). It 

 produces a large, woody root which is cut into pieces of varying size, 

 and shape and dried. The drug, which has long been known as light, 

 woody, stalk, or male jalap has largely been imported in considerable 

 quantities under the name of Mexican Scammony. 



Description. Orizaba jalap root occurs mostly in large transverse 

 slices, 5 to 10 cm. in diameter, and 1 to 2 cm. thick, or in irregular 

 rectangular portions of larger slices. It is greyish-black in colour 

 and coarsely wrinkled ; internally it is greyish or brownish and more 

 or less horny. From the transverse surfaces coarse woody fibres 

 protrude in irregular, concentric circles. The odour is slight and the 

 taste faintly acrid. Occasionally small tapering roots 2 to 3 cm. in 

 diameter and 8 to 10 cm. long are met with. 



Constituents. Like jalap and scammony root the chief constituent 

 of Orizaba jalap root is the ' resin ' it contains ; other constituents 

 of less importance are sugar, /3-methylaesculetin, dihydroxycinnamic 

 acid, fatty acids, phytosterol, starch and calcium oxalate. The 

 amount of crude resin determined as described under ' Jalap Root ' 

 varies from 6 to 22 per cent., averaging 12 to 18 per cent. 



The crude resin is a very complex mixture. It contains about 

 6 per cent, of fatty substances, 64-8 per cent, of resin soluble in ether, 

 24-8 per cent, soluble in ethyl acetate and 2-3 per cent, soluble in 

 chloroform. The ether-soluble portion is not identical with the 

 ether-soluble portion of jalap resin. By alkaline hydrolysis it yields 

 ipuranol. d^-a-methylbutyric acid, tiglic acid and a product which, 

 by acid hydrolysis, yields dextrose, methylpentose, jalapinolic acid 



