620 VEGETABLE DBUGS 



Geanatum. Pomegranate. 



Synonym. — Granati radicis cortex, B.P. ; ecorce de la 

 racine de grenadier (de balaustier), Fr.; granat-wurzelrinde, 

 G.; cortex radicis granati, P.G. 



The bark of the stem and root of Punica Granatum 

 Linne (nat. ord. Lythrariese). 



Habitat. — India and S. "W. Asia. Also cultivated and 

 naturalized in sub-tropical countries. 



Description. — In thin quills or fragments, from 5 to 10 

 Cm. long, and from 1 to 3 Mm. thick ; outer surface yellowish- 

 gray, somewhat warty, or longitudinally and reticulately 

 rigid; the stem-bark often partly covered with blackish 

 lichens; the thicker pieces of the root-bark more or less 

 scaly externally ; inner surface smooth, finely-striate ; 

 grayish-yellow ; indistinctly radiate ; inodorous ; taste astrin- 

 gently, very slightly bitter. 



Constituents. — The active principle is (1) pelletierine 

 (CsHijNO), 2 per cent., a colorless, oily, aromatic alkaloid, 

 soluble in alcohol, chloroform and ether ; four salts occur 

 in commerce : the tannate, sulphate, hydrobromate and 

 hydrochlorate ; the first is more frequently used ; dose — 

 T>., gr.ii.-v. (.12-.3) ; 2, punico-tannic acid, 22 per cent. ; 3^ 

 methyl, pseudo, and iso-pelletierine ; the latter is a tsenia- 

 cide. 



Dose. — Dogs, 3 ss.-i.ss. (2.-6.) 



PEEPAEATIONS. 



Fluidextractum Granati, (U. S. P.) 

 -Dose.— D., 3ss.-i. (3.-4.). 



PelletierincB Tonnaa. (U. S. P.) 

 -Dose.— D., gr.iv. (.34). 



Action and Uses. — Pomegranate is inferior to the fore- 

 going drugs as an anthelmintic, since it is disagreeable and 

 prone to produce vomiting. Pomegranate is an astringent, 

 but, in large doses, acts as an emetic and purgative and has 

 occasioned weakness, colic, dizziuess and convulsions. In 

 sufficient amount pelletierine is said to paralyze motor 

 nerves, like curare. Granatum is an anthelmintic, chiefly 

 against tape-worm. The decoction (1-8, B.P.) may be em- 



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