PDR for Herbal Medicines

208/COLLINSONIA CANADENSIS PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Collinsonia canadensis

See Stone Root

Colombo

Jateorhiza palmata

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts of the plant are the

roots cut in slices when fresh and then dried.

Flower and Fruit: The plant is dioecious. The male

inflorescences are 40 cm long and have green sepals, which

are 2.7 to 3.2 mm long and 1.2 to 1.6 mm wide. The stamens

are free and are fused at the base with the involuted margins

of the petals. The female inflorescence is 8 to 10 cm long

and has a 1 to 1.5 mm rust-red. pubescent ovary. The fruit is

a 2 to 2.5 cm long and 1.5 to 2 cm wide globose drupe

containing a moon-shaped stone.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a woody, branched

liane, which can climb to tree height. The liane is initially

downy, then bristly to villous. The leaves are opposite and

have an 18 to 25 cm long petiole. The leaf blades are 15 to

35 cm long and 18 to 40 cm wide. They are bristly haired on

both surfaces, broadly rounded, deeply cordate at the base

and usually have 5 broad-ovate lobes. The root has a

diameter of 3 to 8 cm. It is greenish-black. The root has a

floury consistency, an indented center and a thick bark. The

transverse section is yellowish, with vascular bundles in

radiating lines.

Characteristics: The taste is mucilaginous and very bitter,
the odor is slight.
Habitat: Indigenous to Mozambique, east Africa and Mada-
gascar. It is cultivated elsewhere.
Production: Colombo root is the root of Jateorhiza palmata,
which has been sliced horizontally and dried. The tuber
roots, stemming from the rhizome, are dug up in March,
washed and thinly sliced, and then dried quickly in the shade
to avoid ^decomposition.
Other Names: Calumba
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Isoquinoline alkaloids: main alkaloid palmatine, additionally
jatrorrhizines (jateorhizine), columbamine, and
bisjatrorrhizines
Diterpene bitter principles: including palmarin, chasmanthin
and their glucosides (palmatoside A and B), columbin,
jateorin and their glucosides (palmatoside D and E)

EFFECTS

The drug is no longer used as a bitter (amarum). The

alkaloids have a narcotic effect. They act similarly to

morphine, increasing resting muscle tone in the smooth

muscle of the intestinal tract. Colombo alkaloids are said to

act as a CNS paralyzing agent in frogs, and palmatin has the

same effect on mammals. No further information is

available.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: In folk medicine it is used for digestive

disorders accompanied by diarrhea, dyspeptic disorders,

chronic diarrhea in patients with lung disease, subacidic

gastritis and chronic entercolitis.

The drug is used in some European countries as an

antidiarrheal agent because of its morphine-like side effects.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Health risks or side effects following the proper administra-

tion of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded.

Higher dosages of the drug may trigger vomiting and pains

in the epigastrium.

OVERDOSAGE

According to older sources, very high dosages can also lead

to signs of paralysis and unconsciousness (Lewin).

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Due to its morphine-type action, its

use as an antidiarrheal agent is limited. Otherwise, the

chopped root is used (no preparations known).

Preparation: Colombo liquid extract is prepared with diluted

ethanol, according to the German pharmacopoeia. Colombo

wine is prepared using 100 parts coarsely powdered drug and

1000 parts xeres wine. The extract is pressed out after 8 days

and filtered.

Daily Dosage: The dose of the decoction is 1 dessertspoon-

ful every 2 hours. The liquid extract standard single dose is

20 drops. Tincture of Colombo standard single dose is 2.5

gm. Colombo wine standard single dose is 5 gm.

Storage: Colombo must be kept dry at all times.

LITERATURE

Chan, EH et al. (Eds), Advances in Chinese Medicinal

Materials Research, World Scientific Pub. Co. Singapore 1985.

Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Vol. 1, 2nd Ed.,

CRC Press 1975.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.