XANTHOKHIZA. 



67 



Parts Used. — The rhizome and roots. Formerly official, it has been 

 discarded from the United States Pharmacopoeia. 



Constituents. — No exact analysis seems to have been made of this plant, 

 though it has been shown to contain berberina in small proportion, and 

 probably to this it owes, in a great measure, its bitterness and tonic prop- 

 erties. 



Preparations. — There are no official preparations of yellow-root. It 

 yields its virtues to both water and alcohol, and may be employed in tinct- 



FlG. 98.— Xanthorhiza apiifolia. 



ure, decoction, infusion, or even in powder, though in the latter form it 

 would be difficult to administer it in efficient doses. 



Medical Properties and. Uses. — Like hydrastis and coptis, both of which 

 it resembles in respect to constituents, xanthorhiza possesses simple 

 bitter tonic properties. It has, however, a much smaller percentage of 

 berberina than either of them, and, so far as this alkaloid goes, should 

 therefore be less efficient when administered in like doses. It has been 

 employed chiefly as a domestic remedy, but some competent observers 

 esteem it more highly than either gentian or calumba, 



