Source Source Obtained from Obtained from

Strophanthus kombeStrophanthus kombeApocynaceae Apocynaceae

It’s a climbing plant It’s a climbing plant Indigenous to eastern tropical AfricaIndigenous to eastern tropical Africa Extract of seed is used as Extract of seed is used as arrow poisonarrow poison in in

Africa Africa Later examined & found as Later examined & found as cardiac poisoncardiac poison Finally Strophanthin is isolated & Finally Strophanthin is isolated &

recommended as a recommended as a therapeutic substitutetherapeutic substitute for for foxglove leavesfoxglove leaves

Collection Collection Consists of two follicles slightly Consists of two follicles slightly

narrowed at base & tapering narrowed at base & tapering apex apex

Each follicle contains closely Each follicle contains closely packed seeds with long awns packed seeds with long awns

Fruits collected when they are Fruits collected when they are ripe & exported after having been ripe & exported after having been freed from epicarp & fleshy freed from epicarp & fleshy mesocarp mesocarp

More commonly seeds separated More commonly seeds separated from follicles ,deprived of their from follicles ,deprived of their awns & sent awns & sent

Description Description Shape Shape Lanceolate , testa prolonged at apex Lanceolate , testa prolonged at apex

into thread like awn which into thread like awn which terminates in a plume of terminates in a plume of

hairs hairs Apex Apex Broken due to removal of awnBroken due to removal of awn Base Base Slight inconspicuous winged extensionSlight inconspicuous winged extension RapheRaphe Runs from the apex to 2/3 of its Runs from the apex to 2/3 of its

length along the central line of length along the central line of one of the one of the broad faces of seedbroad faces of seed

Trichomes Trichomes Directed towards apex & Directed towards apex & gives silky sheen gives silky sheen

Colour Colour Grayish green to fawn Grayish green to fawn Odour Odour Unpleasant Unpleasant Taste Taste Bitter Bitter

Microscopy Microscopy E[pidermis polygonal tubular ,thikened ,lignified cellsE[pidermis polygonal tubular ,thikened ,lignified cells

Upper surface of each cell extended as Upper surface of each cell extended as trichome & appressed to seed trichome & appressed to seed

ParenchymaParenchyma thin layered , collapsed thin layered , collapsed with occasional calcium oxalate with occasional calcium oxalate

EndospermEndospermthin walled parenchyma with abundant thin walled parenchyma with abundant fixed oil & aleurone grains fixed oil & aleurone grains

Cotyledons Cotyledons same as endosperm , two in number same as endosperm , two in number

Constituents Constituents Mixtures of glycosides known as k-strophanthin Mixtures of glycosides known as k-strophanthin

together with kombic acid , choline , trigonelline together with kombic acid , choline , trigonelline 1.1. Cymarin Cymarin strophanthidin + cymarose strophanthidin + cymarose

HydrolysisHydrolysis

2.2. k- strophanthoside k- strophanthoside ββ HHydrolysisydrolysis

strophanthidin + cymarose + glucosestrophanthidin + cymarose + glucose3.3. k- strophanthosidek- strophanthoside

HHydrolysisydrolysis

strophanthidin + cymarose + 2 glucosestrophanthidin + cymarose + 2 glucose

4.4. Cymarol Cymarol strophanthidol + cymarose strophanthidol + cymarose HydrolysisHydrolysis

Uses Uses

Rises B.PRises B.P Efficient diureticEfficient diuretic Powerful cardiac poisonPowerful cardiac poison Similar to foxglove but non-cumulative Similar to foxglove but non-cumulative

Tests Tests

Fractured surface moistened with Fractured surface moistened with 80%sulphuric acid 80%sulphuric acid

Endosperm Endosperm emerald greenemerald green Cotyledons Cotyledons green / reddishgreen / reddish

Substituents Substituents

S.hispidus S.hispidus h-strophanthin h-strophanthin + ve test + ve test S.courmontiiS.courmontii not known not known red violet red violet S.nicholsoniS.nicholsoni not known not known red red S.gratusS.gratus ouabain ouabain rose red rose red