HERBAL MONOGRAPHS CALABAR BEAN/ 137Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York. 1969.
Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used
in Food Drugs and Cosmetics. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New
York 1980.
Lowry JB, (1973) Nature 241:61.
Opdyke DU. (1976) Food Cosmet Toxicol: 14.
Steinegger E. Hansel R. Pharmakognosie. 5. Aufl., Springer
Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
Stuttgart 1997.Calabar Bean
Physostigma venenosum
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the seeds.
Flower and Fruit: The inflorescences are pendulous racemes
^of bean-like flowers. The fruit is a dark brown pod up to 15
^ cm long containing two or three dark brown or blackish
kidney-shaped seeds that are about 2.5 cm long. They are
rounded at the ends, uneven and somewhat polished with the
hilum extending along the whole convex side. The cotyle-
dons are whitish.Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a large, perennial,
twining, woody climber with large, pinnate, trifoliate leaves.Habitat: The plant is indigenous to western Africa and is
cultivated in India and parts of South America.
Production: The Calabar Bean is the seed of Physostigma
venenosum.
Other Names: Chop Nut, Ordeal Bean
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Indole alkaloide (0.3 - 0.5%): main alkaloid physostigmine,
secondary alkaloids include physovenine, geneserine,
eseraminemStarch (up to 50%)
Proteic substancesFatty oil
EFFECTS
The main alkaloid, physostigmine, is miotic, spasmogenic,
negatively chronotropic and curare-antagonistic. It causes an
increase in tone in the parasympathetic system and the
striated muscles. In particular, it causes the pupils tocontract, thus reducing intraocular pressure. It is a glandular
stimulant and increases peristalsis of the gastrointestinal
tract. It reduces heart rate and is a curare antidote.INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: The drug is frequently used in the treatment
of glaucoma. It is also a poison antidote. Its use in the
treatment of Alzheimer's disease to reduce memory loss and
confusion is being investigated.PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
The drug is only used in the extraction of physostigmine.
Symptoms of poisoning include: diarrhea, dizziness, nausea,
salivation, stupor, sweats and vomiting.OVERDOSAGE
Lethal doses can cause muscle twitching, spasms, tachycar-
dia and cyanosis through asphyxiation. Following gastric
lavage, poisonings are treated with atropine; in the case of
spasms, diazepam is also used. Forced diuresis can be useful.
The lethal dose for an adult is 6 to 10 mg of physostigmine
(corresponding to approximately 2 to 3 Calabar Beans).
Poisonings are possible through inappropriate administration
of physostigmine eye drops, due to drainage into the mouth
or nose.DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: As an eye medication, in drops and
ointments. It is used as an antidote in the form of an injection
solution. For gastrointestinal use, it has been replaced by
synthetic prostigmine.Daily Dosage: Apply 1 to 2 eye drops 3 times daily to the
conjunctival sac.LITERATURE
Die G, 125 Jahre Physostigmin. In: ZPT 11(2):7. 1990.
Morbus A, Was gibt es Neues aus der Forschung? In: DAZ
133(23):2090. 1993.
Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Eds.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
Stuttgart 1997.