Experiment - Date:
Study of Ephedra
AIM: To study the morphology, histology, powder characteristics and extraction & detection
of
Ephedra.
SYNONYMS: Ma –Huang.
BIOLOGICAL SOURCE: It consists of dried young stems of Ephedra gerardiana (wall)
stapf and also of E. nebrodensis (Tineo) stapfc collected in autumn belonging to family:
Genetaceae. (Ephedraceae). It contains not less than 1.0% of total alkaloids, calculated as
Ephedrine.
ORGANOLEPTIC CHARACTERS:
Ephedra Stems
Colour: Brownish yellow, Odour: faint, Taste: Bitter.
STAINING/ DIAGNOSIS/ MICRO- CHEMICAL:
Sr.
No. Reagents Observation Characteristics
1. Phloroglucinol + conc. HCL(1:1) Pink Lignified fibres vascular
bundles, pericyclic fibres.
MICROSCOPICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The transverse section of ephedra stem shows epidermis, composed of thick-walled,
quadrangular cells, covered by thick cuticle. Cortex is composed of chlorenchyma with outer
zone of radially elongated cells and inner zone of spongy parenchyma. Pith is large with
rounded cells, containing dark brown mucilaginous substance in pigment cells. The margin
appears wavy due to ridges. The following tissues are observed from the periphery towards
the centre:
a) Epidermis:
It is composed of a single layer of thick-walled, quadrangular cells with thick and smooth
cuticle. Vertical rows of sunken stomata are present between many vertical ridges of the
stem. Papillae are also present in the ridges. Below the ridges, groups of non-lignified fibres
are observed.
b) B. Cortex:
It is composed of two to three layers of chlorenchyma (loosely arranged parenchymatous
palisade cells containing chloroplasts) with outer layers of radially elongated cells and inner
zone of spongy parenchyma. Cortex shows lignified as well as non-lignified fibres.
Unlignified fibres appear like a bunch of grapes and occur below the ridges where no
palisade cells are seen. Lignified fibres are found scattered, isolated or in groups of two to
four. These occur in the inner layers of oval, cortical parenchyma which show chloroplasts.
c) Pericyclic Fibres:
Pericycle consists of groups of lignified fibres outside the phloem.
d) Vascular Bundles:
These are around six to ten in number radially arranged in the cortex. These are collateral,
conjoint and open. Phloem is towards the outer side and appears distinctly. It contains sieve
tubes and companion cells. Xylem is well developed consisting of vessels, tracheids, fibro-
tracheids and parenchyma. Xylem from a mature stem shows a well-developed continuous
band.
e) Pith:
It is composed of large, thin-walled, lignified and polygonal parenchyma with intercellular
spaces. Some cells contain brownish, mucilaginous masses.
T.S. of Ephedra Stem
Powder Microscopy:
Epidermis: Fragments of epidermis, quadrangular cells, outer walls are ridged.
Fibres: Lignified and non- lignified, long, slender and cylindrical.
Xylem: Tracheids with bordered pits.
Brownish matter: Abundant, dark brownish mucilaginous substance from pith.
Fibres Vessels
Powder Microscopy of Ephedra
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Ephedra contains alkaloids Ephedrine (water-soluble
salt), Pseudoephedrine (analog of ephedrine), Norpseudoephedrine (an analog of ephedrine).
The leaves and stems of ephedra also contain many potentially active compounds, such as
tannins, saponin, flavone and volatile oils.
CHEMICAL TESTS:
Sr Experiment Observation Inference
no
Boil the powder drug with
chloroform or ethanol and filter.
Add a few drops of dilute HCl to
the residue, shake well and filter. Cream color
To the filterate add few drops of precipitate is
Mayer’s reagent. obtained.
2 To the filterate add few drops of Yellow color
Hager’s reagent. precipitate is
To the filterate add few drops of obtained.
3
Wagner’s reagent. Reddish brown color
To the filterate add few drops of precipitate is
Dragendorff’s reagent. obtained.
4
Dissolve 10 mg of drug in 1ml of Orange brown color
5
water, add 0.2 ml of dilute HCl and precipitate is
0.1 ml of copper sulphate solution obtained.
followed by 1ml of sodium
hydroxide solution.
Violet color is
Add 1ml of solvent ether and observed.
shake.
The ether layer is
purple and the
aqueous layer is blue.
USES: Ephedrine is antiallergenic, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, decongestant, cough
suppressant, stimulant and vasoconstrictor. Pseudoephedrine is decongestant, cough
suppressant and norpseudoephedrine is peripheral vasodilator used to treat angina. As a
whole it is decongestant; it opens sinuses, increases sweating, dilates bronchioles
(antiasthmatic use), diuretic, CNS stimulant, raises blood pressure, alleviates aches and
rheumatism, alleviates hay fever/colds, etc.
REPORT:
