B. P. I.— 229. 



V.-THE DRUG KNOWN AS PINKROOT. 



By W. W. Stockbekger, Expert, Drug-Plant Investigations. 



INTRODUCTION^. 



The drug known as pinkroot is derived from the underground por- 

 tions of Spigelia marilandica L. (Pl.V), an American lierb now found 

 growing most abundantly in the Southern States and occurring localh" 

 in the Mississippi Yalle}" and eastward. It came into use in America 

 as a vermifuge about 1723 and because of its valuable properties soon 

 came to occupy an important place in materia medica. Unfortunate!}", 

 however, conflicting reports on its physiological effects in time estab- 

 lished for pinkroot a reputation for uncertain action, and within the 

 last fifty 3"ears the use of this drug, once regarded as highh" reliable 

 and valuable, has greath^ decreased. Since it has seldom been held at 

 high prices the cost has not operated to drive it out of the markets. 



The cause of the apparent loss of high efficiency formerly claimed 

 for pinkroot has engaged the attention of students of crude drugs for 

 many years. The demonstration bv Dr. R. H. True ^ that an unsus- 

 pected substitute had crept into the markets and to a considerable 

 degree replaced the true article has explained in large measure the 

 unfavorable commercial and medical status of pinkroot. The results 

 here outlined of a detailed stud}" of pinkroot and its more important 

 adulterants ma}" serve to aid collectors in discerning the real pinkroot 

 and to assist drug experts in distinguishing the plant from its sophis- 

 tications in its commercial form. 



TRADE VARIETIES OF PINKROOT. 



The complex nature of the material put upon the market as pink- 

 root has long been known to the drug trade, and although the real 

 nature of the spurious article was not understood, its presence was 

 recognized, and various sorts of pinkroot came to be distinguished by 

 definite trade names — e. g., true pinkroot, genuine pinkroot, south- 

 ern pinkroot, Georgia pinkroot. East Tennessee pinkroot, western 

 pinkroot, and true fiber pinkroot. The visible differences by which 

 these trade varieties are segregated may be utilized in distinguishing 



« Pharmaceutical Eeview, 21: 364, 1903. 

 100— V 41 



