Strychnos pierriana

Background

Chinese Name (pinyin): Maqianzi

Chinese Name  :

Common Name  :Nux-vomica Seed

Specific Name  : Semen strychni

Scientific Name:
Collection  : The fruit is collected in winter and the seed is gathered and dried in the sun.

Description  : Button shape, 1.5 -3cm in diameters, 0.3 - 0.6cm thick, frequently one side prominent and the other slightly dented. Outer surface closely covered with greyish brown or greyish green silky hairs radiating from center to circumference, silky lustrous. Edge slightly prominent, relatively thick with protrudant micropyle, a prominent dot like hilum at the center of the bottom surface. Texture hard, pale yellowish white endosperm visible in horizontal section, horny, cotyledons cordate with 5 - 7veins. Odorless and taste extremely bitter.Semen Strychni Pierrianae: Flattened ellipsoidal or oblate, edge relatively thin and slightly upward, cotyledons ovate with 3 veins.

Identification  : 1.Powder: Greyish yellow, nonglandular hairs unicellular, mostly broken with very thickened and lignified walls, enlarge at the base like a stone cell. Endosperm cells polygonal, thick walled, containing fatty oil and aleurone grains.2.To a section of endosperm of the dried seed add 1 drop of 1% solution of ammonium vaanadate in sulfuric acid, a violet color is produced. To another section of endosperm add 1 drop of fuming nitric acid, an orange red color is produced.3.Extract 0.5g of the powder with 5 ml of a mixture of chloroform ethanol (10:1) and 0.5ml of concentrated ammonia TS in a stopper conical flask by shaking for 5 minutes, allow to stand for 2 hours, filter and use the filtrate as the test solution. Dissolve strychninine CRS and brucine CRS in chloroform to produce a solution containing 2 mg of each per ml as the reference solution. Carry out the method for thin layer chromatography (Appendix Vl B), using silica gel G as the coating substance and toluene-acetone-ethanol-concentrate ammoniaa (4:5:0.6:0.4) as the mobile phase. Apply separately 10µl of each of the two solutions to the plate. After developing and removal of the plate, dry it in the air, spray with potassium iodobimuthate TS. The spots in the chromatogram obtained with the test solution correspond in position and color to the spots in the chromatogram obtained with the reference solution.Water: Carry out the method for the detyermination of water (Appendix lX H, method 1), not more than 13%.Assay: Macerate about 0.4g of the powder (pass through No. 3 sieve) accurately weighed with 20 ml of chloroform and 0.3ml of concentrated ammonia TS accurately measured and stoppered conical flask for 24 hours, weigh at maceration, ultrasonicate 40 minutes [ power 350W, frequency 35 KHz(Kc/s) and weigh after the treatment. Compensate chloroform lost in the operation. Shake thoroughly and filter. Extract 10 ml of the filtrate, accurately measured with 4 quantities, each of 10ml of sulfuric acid (0.5 mol/L) VS. Filter the extract with a filter paper moistened previously with sulfuric acid (0.5 mol/L)VS to a 50 ml volumetric flask. Wash the filter with sufficient quantity of sulfuric acid (0.5 mol/L) VS. Combine the washings with the extract, dilute with the same acid solution to volume and mix well. Dilute 10 ml of the solution, accurately measured with sulfuric acid (0.5 mol/L) VS to volumetric flask and mix well. Carry out the method for spectrophotometry (Appendix V A). Measure the absorbances at 262nm and 300 nm. Calculate the content of strychnine from the following expression.% of strychnine = 5(0.321a - 0.467b) W (1- water content)Where, a is absorbance at 262nm b is absorbance at 300 nm W is weight of sample in g.It contains 1.22% of strichnine (C23 H22 N2 O2). Calculated on dried basis.

Processing  : Eliminate foreign matter.Semen Strychni (processed): Scald as describe under the method for scalding (Appendix 11 D) until inflated and turns into brown or dark brown.

Action  : To promote the flow of qi and blood in the collaterals, relieve pain, and promote the subsidence of swelling.

Indication  : protracted arthritis, rheumatoid arthralgia; numbness and paralysis; sequelae of polyiomyelitis; traumatic injury; boils and sores

Precautions  : Not to be used unprocessed, in overdosage or in long term administration; contraindicated in pregnancy.

Dosage  : 0.3 to 0.6 g, used for making pills or powder after being processed.

Storage  : Preserve in a dry place.

Background

Chinese Name (pinyin): Maqianzi fen

Chinese Name  :

Common Name  :Nux Vomica powder

Specific Name  : Semen strychni pulveratum

Scientific Name:
Collection  : The fruit is collected in winter and the seed is gathered and dried in the sun.

Description  : A yellowish brown powder, odor scorched aromatic and taste extremely bitter.

Identification  : Complies with Identification test (3) described under Semen Strychni.

Processing  : Pulverized the processed Semen Strychni to fine powder. Carry out the assay for Semen Strychni to determine the content of strychnine then add a sufficient quantity of starch to make its content complies with the requirements and mix well.Water: Carry out the determination of water (Appendix lX, method 1) not more than 14.0%.Assay: Carry out the Assay described under Semen Strychni. It contains 0.78 - 0.82% of strycnine (C21 H22 N2 O2) calculated on dried basis.

Action  : To promote the flow of qi and blood in the collaterals, relieve pain, and promote the subsidence of swelling.

Indication  : protracted arthritis, rheumatoid arthralgia; numbness and paralysis; sequelae of polyiomyelitis; traumatic injury; boils and sores

Precautions  :

Dosage  : 0.3 to 0.6 g, used for making pills or powder.

Storage  : Preserve in tightly closed containers.

Evidence or the Use of Strychnos pierriana in the Treatment of Epilepesy

1st Five Results: pubmed search

Weiran Liu, Xintian Tang, Chengyu Fan, Guannan He, Xiaoxin Wang, Xiaodong Liang, Xia Bao
Chemical constituents, pharmacological action, antitumor application, and toxicity of Strychnine Semen from Strychnons pierriana A.W.Hill.: A review.
J Ethnopharmacol: 2023, 317;116748
[PubMed:37348797] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

B C Cai, W X Yang, W Y Zhu, J C Lu, D J Ye
[Effect of processing on the extraction of alkaloids from Strychnos].
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi: 1993, 18(1);23-4, 62
[PubMed:8323680] [WorldCat.org] (P p)

D Z Sha, J H Dou, F Li, Y Tang
[Studies on the relation of alkaloids in semen Strychni and its processing].
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi: 1989, 14(1);22-4, 62
[PubMed:2569879] [WorldCat.org] (P p)

H D ZHANG, Y Y TONG, T C LOU
[STUDIES ON THE CHINESE SPECIES OF STRYCHNOS. I. STRYCHNOS PIERRIANA A. W. HILL].
Yao Xue Xue Bao: 1963, 10;365-70
[PubMed:14070619] [WorldCat.org] (P p)