Subterranean Organs

Subterranean Stems Containing Volatile Oils

Ginger rhizome (Zingiber) ‫الزنجبيل‬

 Fresh, whole or cut rhizome of Zingiber officinale
Roscoe, (Zingiberaceae) with cork removed, either
completely or from wide flat surfaces only.
Irregularly branched; branches known as “fingers”
 it contains not less than 15 ml/kg of essential oil,
calculated with reference to the anhydrous drug.
ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
 Essential oil: (responsible for aroma); zingiberene, β-
Bisabolene and zingiberol.
 Oleo–resin: (responsible for pungent taste):
➢ Gingerols & Shogaols (dehydration products of
gingerols), zingerone (degradation product of gingerols).
➢ Zingerone and shogaols are found in small amounts in
fresh ginger and in larger amounts in dried or extracted
products.
Subterranean Stems Containing Volatile Oils
Ginger rhizome (Zingiber) ‫الجنزبيل‬
USES IN PHARMACOPOEIAS AND TRADITIONAL
MEDICINE
• Antirheumatic, treatment of dyspepsia, colds and
flu, to stimulate the appetite.
CONTRAINDICATIONS

 Patients taking anticoagulant drugs or

those with blood coagulation disorders
should consult their physician prior to
self-medication with ginger (It possess
antiplatelet activity)
 Patients
with gallstones should consult
their physician before using ginger
(promotes production of gall stones).
Subterranean Stems Containing Volatile Oils
Curcuma (Turmeric) ‫الكركم‬
 Japanese turmeric consists of the dried rhizome,
cut in slices, of Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb.
(Zingiberaceae).
 It contains not less than 50 ml/kg of essential oil
and not less than 1.0 % of dicinnamoyl methane
derivatives expressed as curcumin, both
calculated with reference to the anhydrous drug.
ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
 Pale yellow to orange-yellow volatile oil (6%):
monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, including
zingiberene, curcumene, α- and β- turmerone.
 Colouring principles (5%): curcuminoids, 50–
60% of which is curcumin.
 Recent researches has identified curcumin as
responsible for most of the biological activity of
turmeric.
Subterranean Stems Containing Volatile Oils

Curcuma (Turmeric) ‫الكركم‬

USES SUPPORTED BY CLINICAL DATA
 The principal use is for the treatment dyspepsia.
 Treatment of jaundice & hepatitis, choleretic,
hepatoprotective, pain and inflammation due to
rheumatoid arthritis. Levamerc®
Subterranean Stems Containing Volatile Oils
Garlic Bulbs
 It is the fresh or dried bulbs of Allium sativum L.
(Liliaceae)
 several outer protective layers which surround an
inner sheath enclosing the swollen storage leaves
called “cloves”.
ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS
 Volatile oil: Sulfur–containing compounds (≈17) Alliin,
compounds produced enzymatically from alliin including
allicin
 Enzymes: Allinase, peroxidases, myrosinase
Allicin (& other sulfur–containing cpds) => formed from
alliin by alliinase when garlic is crushed or chopped.
Subterranean Stems Containing Volatile Oils
Garlic Bulbs
USES
 In management of hyperlipidaemia, and prevention of
atherosclerotic (age-dependent) vascular changes.
 It may be useful in treatment of mild hypertension.
 It is antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral & antiseptic
DRUG INTERACTIONS
 May interfere with anticoagulant therapies (Patients on warfarin or
aspirin therapy should be warned that it may increase bleeding
times).
 Gastrointestinal irritation may occur if clove is eaten raw by
individuals not accustomed to ingesting garlic.
Subterranean Stems Containing Lignans
Podophyllum (May apple Root, American Mandrake)
 Podophyllum Resin is the resin obtained from rhizomes and
roots of Podophyllum hexandrum Royle (P. emodi Wall.)
(Berberidaceae).
 It contains not less than 50.0% of total lignans, calculated as
podophyllotoxin.
ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS

 Resin of Podophyllum (podophyllin)

 American podophyllum resin contains
podophyllotoxin (20%), β-peltatin (10%) and α-
peltatin (5%)
podophyllotoxin
 Indian podophyllum resin contains mainly
podophyllotoxin (up to 40%), with only traces of
peltatins.

Beta-peltatin
Subterranean Stems Containing Lignans
Podophyllum (May apple Root, American Mandrake)

USES:
 Topically: for removal of topical wart, genital warts,
some skin cancers and other papillomas. It works by
destroying the abnormal tissue growth.
 An industrial source for extraction of podophyllotoxin
and its semi-synthetic derivatives; the two cytostatic
drugs, etoposide and teniposide (Vepesid®, VP16® ,
Vumon ®). Etoposide is approved by the FDA for various
types of cancers.
Subterranean Stems Containing Lignans
Podophyllum (May apple Root, American Mandrake)

PRECAUTIONS:
 It is severely irritating to skin and mucous membranes. Be sure
to protect skin adjacent to the treated area (should not exceed
25 cm²).
 Using podophyllum on bleeding warts or that have recently had
surgery may increase absorption of drug through the skin
 It SHOULD NOT be taken orally.
Dose over 0.2 gm causes severe abdominal pain, bloody-watery
diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, coordination disorders,
spasms, nephritis, later collapse and death in coma through
respiratory failure.