Sappan, I.C.A. Sappan.

Related entries: Logwood

Sappan consists of the heartwood of Caesalpinia Sappan, Linn. (N.O. Leguminosae), a tree indigenous to India. The wood occurs in red, hard, heavy pieces, or in orange-red chips. It is whitish when freshly cut, but becomes red on exposure to air. A transverse section exhibits well-marked, concentric rings, numerous narrow, medullary rays, and large vessels. The drug has no odour, but an astringent taste.

Constituents.—The chief constituent of the wood is a colourless, crystalline principle, sappanin, C₁₂H₁₀O₄, which is closely allied to brasilin, C₁₆H₁₄O₅. obtained from brazil wood, and to haematoxylin (from logwood), C₁₆H₁₄O₆. Solutions of both brasilin and sappanin assume a carmine-red colour in contact with even traces of caustic alkalies, whereas solution of haematoxylin becomes purple. Sappanin is soluble in both alcohol and water.

Action and Uses.—Sappan is official in India and the Eastern Colonies for use in place of logwood as an astringent.

PREPARATION.

Decoctum Sappan, I.C.A.—DECOCTION OF SAPPAN.

Sappan, in chips, 5; cinnamon bark, bruised, 0.8; distilled water, sufficient to produce 100. Add the sappan to 120 of the water, boil for ten minutes, and add the cinnamon bark when the decoction is nearly ready; strain, and make up to the required volume, if necessary, by passing distilled water through the strainer. Decoction of sappan is used in India and the Eastern Colonies as an equivalent of decoction of logwood. Dose.—15 to 60 mils (½ to 2 fluid ounces).

The British Pharmaceutical Codex, 1911, was published by direction of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.