(Brot.) A. Rich.Psychotria ipecacuanhaFamily: Rubiaceae.
Habitat: Native to tropical America. Now cultivated in Darjeeling, Assam, in the Nilgiris, and in Sikkim.
English: Ipecac, Ipecacuanha.Action: Root—Antiprotozal, expectorant (in low doses), diaphoretic, emetic (in high doses); used in amoebic dysentery, stubborn cough, whopping cough (for liquefying bronchial phlegm).
Key application: As expectorant, emetic. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)The root contains isoquinoline alkaloids (consisting mainly of emetine and cephaeline); tannins (ipecacuanha and ipecacuanhic acid; glycosides including a monoterpene isoquinoline derivative); saponins; a mixture of glycoproteins; starch; choline; resins.The alkaloids are clinically useful in the treatment of amoebiasis.Emetine and cephaeline are emetic due to their irritating effect on stomach; cephaeline is more toxic. Emetine is a standard antiamoebic principle. In smaller doses, both are expectorant.The fluid extract is 14 times stronger than the syrup of the crude drug. The powder is toxic at 1-2 g.Emetine accumulates in liver, lungs, kidneys and spleen; traces are detectable after 40-60 days. (Francis Brinker.)
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