Ipomoea

IPOMOEA

Synonyms

Radix ipomoeae, Orizaba jalap root, Mexican scammony root, Mexican scammony, Ipomoea radix.

Biological Source

Ipomoea consists of the dried tuberous roots of Ipomoea orizabensis Ledenois., belonging to family Convolvulacae.

Geographical Source

It is mainly found in Mexico (Orizabs), Mexican Andes.

Collection

Ipomoea is perennial climbing twinner. It produces a large, woody and tuberous root. The Roots are dug, washed, cut into slices and dried.

Characteristics

Ipomoea roots are large and fusiform, with 3 to 10 cm thick and about 20 cm long. They occur as irregular pieces, greyish brown in colour, with slight odour and slight acrid taste.

Microscopy

The cork is thin-walled cells, which is lignified. The parenchyma consists of numerous latex cells, starch grains, and calcium oxalate crystals. The starch occurs in group of two to six compounds, the calcium oxalate present is of prismatic type. In the middle it has the primary xylem surrounded by the secondary xylem. The vascular bundles are also present in numerous amounts,

Chemical Constituents

Ipomoea consist of 10 to 20% resin, volatile oil and some fatty acids. The resin has an ether soluble portion and ether insoluble portion. Both the portions contain jalapin; a mixture of acidic glycosides. Ether soluble portion has jalapinolic acid, whereas in ether insoluble part it has hydroxy fatty acids, that is, ipurolic acid and convolvullinic acid.

Uses

Ipomoea resin is strong cathartic.