Ephedra

Synonym                                              :  Ma- Huang , Ephedra .

Biological source                                  :  It consist of dried young steam of Ephedra sinica

Scientific name                          :   Ephedra sinica  .

Family                                                  :  Ephedraceae .

Geographical distribution                       :  It is found in China , Pakistan , Australia ,

                                                                North east-part of India .

Organoleptic / Morphological Evaluation :

i)  Colour                                  -  Brownish .

ii) Odour                                  -  Aggreable and Aromatic .

iii) Taste                                   -  Astringent and Bitter .

iv) Size                         -  Up-to 30cm in length .

v)  Shape                                  -  Cylindrical  .

            vi) Extra Features                     -  An Ephedra is found with arrangement of branches

                                                                and branchlets . The fruit are Ovoid , sweet and red

                                                                in colour .

Chemical constituents :. Ephedra consist about 1 – 1.5% of total alkaloids of Ephedra ,

                                        calculated as Ephidrium . The different alkaloids of Ephedra are as

                                        follows :-

i)                    L- Ephedrine

ii)                   L- methylephedrine

iii)                 D-methyl iso ephedrine

iv)                 D-pseudoepidrine

v)                  Nor-epidrine

vi)                 Dimethyl-epidrine .

Therapeutic uses :

i)                    It is used as sympathomimetic in asthma .

ii)                   It is also used in Hay-fever .

iii)                 It used in Bronchities and whooping cough .

iv)                 It is used in Central Nervous System stimulant .