1 Cannabis Indian Hemp Indian cannabis Marihuana Marijuana

1. Cannabis: Indian Hemp; Indian cannabis; Marihuana; Marijuana , Hashish. Dried flowering tops of Cannabis sativa(Moraceae) After years of extensive research carried out on the selective cultivation of Cannabis, two of its genetic types have been evolved, namely: (i) Drug Type, and (ii) Hemp Type. A. Drug type (Cannabis): It is rich (upto 15%) in the psychoactive constituent (–)-Δ 9 - trans-tetra-hydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC).

The Δ 9 -THC is usually concentrated into a resin that is secreted right into the trichomes located on the small leaves (bracts) and bracteoles (i. e. , the leaf-like structure which encloses the ovary) of the flowering tops of the female plant. Interestingly, for the specific drug usages either the resin (hashish) is employed or the flowering tops of the female plant (marijuana). Nevertheless, the male plant also generates an equivalent quantity of the active constituents; however, it is not concentrated into a resin but found throughout the entire plant. ____________________________ B. Hemp Type (Cannabis): It contains very little active substances. Cannabidiol is the predominant cannabinoid present in it.

The chemical constituents Δ 9 THC and cannabidiol present in the drug type and hemp-type cannabis. The resin contains several active constituents, such as: cannabinol, and tetrahydrocannabinol. Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC) is responsible for the central nervous system effects in humans. The recognized central nervous system responses to these preparations include alterations in cognition and memory, euphoria, and sedation.

Potential therapeutic applications of Cannabis preparations that are of either historical interest include analgesia, control of the nausea and vomiting of cancer chemotherapy, appetite stimulation, decreased intestinal motility of diarrhea, decreased bronchial constriction of asthma, decreased intraocular pressure of glaucoma, antirheumatic and antipyretic actions, and treatment of convulsant disorders. Motor excitement and restlessness vary in different persons; tremors of the tongue and fingers, and muscular rigidity may occur. The pupils become widely dilated and react to light. Mental confusion and hallucinations.

2. Podophyllum: Podophyllum resin Podophyllum is the dried rhizomes and roots of Podophyllum peltatum (Berberidaceae). Podophyllum contains 3. 5 to 6% of a resin. Podophyllotoxin, it also contains α-peltatin and β-peltatin. Uses 1. It is used as a slow-acting purgative. 2. Podophyllotoxin possesses anti-tumour (antineoplastic) properties and may be used in the treatment of cancer.

3. Kava: Kava-Kava It is the dried rhizome and roots of Piper methysticum (Piperaceae). Uses 1. The drug (kava pyrones) acts as potent centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants. 2. It also possesses antipyretic and local anaesthetic properties. 3. Anxiolytic and analgesic effects. 4. Antispasmodic activity.

Oleoresins are homogenous mixtures of resins and volatile oils. These are, in fact, the vegetative secretions obtained as natural products and composed of resin(s) dissolved in essential oils. The oleoresins may be either liquid, or semisolid, or solid. 1. Capsaicin: It is the pungent principle present in fruit of various species of Capsicum annuum L. (Family: Solanaceae)(Paprika, Chili, Sweet Peppers) The capsicum contains 8 -12% of an oleoresin capsaicin and a red colouring principle known as capsanthin.

2. Ginger: The oleoresin obtained from powdered rhizomes of Zingiber officinale(Zingiberaceae). The oleoresin contains the pungent gingerols and shogaols. It is used as a flavouring agent, carminative, aromatic and stimulant to gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Also it is used as antiemetic , hypolipidaemic and analgesic.

Oleo-Gum-Resins The oleo-gum-resins are the naturally occurring mixture of resin, gum, volatile oil, and mostly small quantities of other substances. 1. Turmeric : Curcuma Turmeric is obtained from the rhizome of Curcuma longa(Zingiberaceae). It contains volatile oil (5 -6%), resin and substantial quantity of starch grains. The marked and pronounced yellow colour in turmeric is due to the presence of curcumin.

Uses 1. It is employed as a colouring agent for ointments. 2. It is used medicinally as a tonic, as a blood purifier, as an anthelmintic. 3. A small quantity of turmeric when boiled with milk and sugar; it helps to cure common cold and cough symptoms.

2. Myrrh : Gum Myrrh is an oleo-gum-resin obtained from the stem and branches of Commiphora obyssinica (Burseraceae). Myrrh contains volatile oil (7 -17%), resin (20 -25%), gum (57 -61%). Uses: 1. It is frequently employed as an antiseptic and stimulant. 2. Myrrh acts as an astringent to the mucous membrane and hence it find its application in oral hygiene formulations, such as: gargles, mouth-washes. -------------------------------------------3. Balsams: Balsams are the resinous mixtures that essentially contain large amount of benoic acid, cinnamic acid or both, or esters of these organic aromatic acids.

Tolu Balsam: Balsam of Tolu Balsam is a balsam obtained from Toluifera balsamum(Fabaceae) It is a yellowish-brown or brown semifluid or nearly solid resinous mass. It has a characteristic aromatic vanilla-like odour and slightly pungent taste. It is found to be transparent in thin layers, and shows numerous crystals of cinnamic acid. It is almost insoluble in water and petroleum ether, but freely soluble in ethanol, benzene and Chloroform. The drug contains resin esters (75 -80%) , toluresinotannol cinnamate, free cinnamic acid (12 -15%); vanillin and other constituents in small quantities. Uses 1. It is used widely as an expectorant in cough mixture. 2. It also finds its application as an antiseptic in the form of its tincture.

Volatile Oils ( Essential Oils) Volatile oils are the odorous and volatile products of various plant and animal species. As they have a tendency to undergo evaporation on being exposed to the air even at an ambient temperature, they are invariably termed as volatile oils, essential oil or ethereal oils. They mostly contribute to the odoroferous constituents or ‘essences’ of the aromatic plants. These volatile oils are usually formed by two modes: 1)by hydrolysis of some glycosides; and 2) by the protoplasm directly. It has been observed that the volatile oils are present in different parts of a plant.

Physical Characteristics of Voltaile Oils: (a) Odour: Most volatile oils do possess very pleasant and characteristic odour which vary from one specimen to another. Detection : When a drop of the volatile oil is soaked on a filter paper, an expert may judge its quality and may also differentiate between the authentic pure sample from the adulterated one by their individual odours. (b) Nature: In general, the volatile oils are liquids at ordinary temperatures. However, there a few exceptions, for instance: (i) Anise Oil: It solidifies at 15 C and melts at 17 C, (ii) Rose Oil: It solidifies at 17 C and melts at 19 C.

(c) Volatility: The essential oils are mostly volatile completely, with the exception of a few of them e. g. , ‘oil of lemon’, ‘oil of orange’, that contain also an additional non-volatile substance of gummy nature. (d) Colour: Invariably, the colour of freshly obtained volatile oils are more or less colourless, but on prolonged storage they usually undergo both oxidation and resinification thereby rendering it dark in colour. The darkened volatile oil can be redistilled to obtain once again the colourless sample. (e) Refractive Index: The refractive index of volatile oils vary from 1. 42 to 1. 61. They are mostly characterized by high refractive indices. (f ) Optical Rotation: A large number of volatile oils exhibit optical activity by virtue of the chemical constitution of the oil(s) or its constitution, for example: Menthol isolated from pippermint oil is exclusively levo-rotatory, whereas the synthetic menthol could be either racemic or levo.

(g) Specific Gravity: The specific gravity of volatile oils ranges between 0. 8 to 1. 17. Interestingly. the volatile oils lighter than water like, Oil of Anise the volatile oils heavier than water like, Oil of Cinnamon, Oil of Garlic and Oil of Clove. (h) Solubility: The majority of volatile oils are immiscible with water, but are soluble in absolute alcohol and several other organic solvents e. g. , ether, chloroform, carbon disulphide, acetone, hexane, ethyl acetate etc.

Chemical Characteristics of Volatile Oils: It has been observed that plethora of volatile oils are found to be a ‘complex mixtures’ essentially comprising of different class of chemical constituents. Therefore, they are found to vary widely in the chemical composition and their therapeutic applications. However, there a few exceptions to the above observation wherein only one chemical entity is present in the naturally occurring volatile oil : (a) Oil of Bitter Almond—contains benzaldehyde exclusively, and (b) Oil of Winter Green—contains methyl salicylate exclusively. Note: there are more than 500 different chemical compounds that have been isolated, purified and identified in volatile oils

Classification of Volatile Oils: (i) Hydrocarbon volatile oils: beta-Myrecene (ii) Alcohol volatile oils: Geraniol (iii) Aldehyde volatile oils: Neral (iv) Ketone volatile oils: Carvone (v) Phenol volatile oils: Carvacrole (vi) Phenolic ether volatile oils: Anethole (vii) Oxide volatile oils: Safrole (viii) Ester volatile oils: Geranyl acetate

1. Hydrocarbon Volatile Oils: (a) Unsaturated acyclic hydrocarbons, (b) Aromatic hydrocarbons, and (c) monoterpenes. __________________________ Unsaturated Acyclic Hydrocarbons: Aromatic Hydrocarbons: para-Cymene

Monoterpenes: A. Monocyclic Terpenes: B. Bicyclic Monoterpenes: The bicyclic monoterpenes, as the name suggests essentially possess two cyclic rings which are condensd together. This class of compound is relatively more complex in nature in comparison to the monocyclic species. The second ring system usually conatin 2, 3 or 4 C-atoms in common and the rings may be having 3, 4, 5 , 6 or 7 membered rings.