234. Erythrophloeum.—Sassy Bark.
Botanical name:
234. ERYTHROPHLOEUM.—SASSY BARK. A poisonous bark from Erythrophloe'um guineens'e Don, used as an ordeal in Africa, where the tree grows, and therefore sometimes called doom-bark. It is in thick, warty, curved pieces, reddish-brown, fissured. Inodorous; taste astringent and bitter. It contains an alkaloid, erythrophleine, which gives it an action on the heart similar to digitalis; also astringent, emetic, diaphoretic, and analgesic. Dose: 5 to 15 gr. (0.3 to 1 Gm.).
Preparation of Erythrophleine.—Treat concentrated aqueous solution of the alcoholic extract of the bark with ammonia and exhaust the mixture with acetic ether. The alkaloid is yielded on evaporation.
