Tinctura Strophanthi (U. S. P.)—Tincture of Strophanthus.
Related entry: Strophanthus (U. S. P.)—Strophanthus
Preparation.—"Strophanthus, in No. 30 powder, fifty grammes (50 Gm.) [1 oz. av., 334 grs.]; alcohol, water, each, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Mix alcohol and water in the proportion of six hundred and fifty cubic centimeters (650 Cc.) [21 fl℥, 470♏︎] of alcohol to three hundred and fifty cubic centimeters (350 Cc.) [11 fl℥, 401♏︎] of water. Digest the powder with seventy cubic centimeters (70 Cc.) [2 fl℥, 176♏︎] of the menstruum for 2 days, then transfer to a cylindrical percolator, gradually pour menstruum upon it, and continue the percolation very slowly, until one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎] of tincture are obtained"—(U. S. P.). Strophanthus seeds are not easily bruised, and, to facilitate their comminution, Dr. Squibb proposed to bruise them with fragments of glass in an iron mortar (Ephemeris, Vol. III, p. 15). An abundance of oil is contained in the seeds, for the removal of which no provision has been made in the official process. The process (see below) given by the National Formulary directs the use of ether in order to extract the oil. If made according to the U. S. P. official directions, the tincture has a brown-yellow or amber color; if according to the National Formulary, the color is green-yellow. It has a very bitter taste. The use of benzin to extract the oil has been suggested, but is not desirable, because it is difficult to remove from the tincture the benzin odor imparted to it. The tincture of strophanthus of the British Pharmacopoeia, 1885 (Additions, 1890), likewise has the strength of 1 in 20, but directions are given to remove the oil with ether. The tincture of strophanthus of the British Pharmacopoeia (1898) is prepared with half the proportion of strophanthus seeds used in the preceding Pharmacopoeia; the previous extraction of oil by means of ether is omitted. (Regarding the assay of tincture of strophanthus, see under Strophanthus.)
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—(See Strophanthus.) Dose, from 1 to 10 minims.
Related Tincture.—TINCTURA STROPHANTHI (N. F.), Tincture of strophanthus. "Strophanthus seeds, freed from their comose appendage, reduced to No. 30 powder, and dried at 50° C. (122° F.), 1 troy ounce; stronger ether, a sufficient quantity; alcohol, enough to make 20 fluid ounces. Pack the strophanthus in a suitable percolator, pour on enough stronger ether to saturate the powder thoroughly, cover the percolator, and macerate during 24 hours. Then allow the percolation to proceed, gradually pouring on stronger ether, until the liquid passes through colorless. This ethereal percolate is to be rejected. Remove the marc from the percolator, and dry it, first by exposure to air, then at a temperature of 50° C. (122° F.). Again reduce it to powder, moisten it with alcohol, repack it in the percolator, and macerate during 48 hours. Then percolate it with alcohol, in the usual manner, until twenty (20) fluid ounces of tincture are obtained. Each fluid drachm represents 3 grains of strophanthus. The dose is about 2 to 10 minims. Note.—Strophanthus seeds are obtained from one or more species of Strophanthus, growing in eastern Africa, and are usually referred to Strophanthus Kombé, Oliver"—(Nat. Form., 1st. ed.).
