Scammony

Scammony
Scammony
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Convolvulus
Species: C. scammonia
Binomial name
Convolvulus scammonia

Scammony (Convolvulus scammonia) is a bindweed native to the countries of the eastern part of the Mediterranean basin; it grows in bushy waste places, from Syria in the south to the Crimea in the north, its range extending westward to the Greek islands, but not to northern Africa or Italy.

It is a twining perennial, bearing flowers like those of Convolvulus arvensis, and having irregularly arrow-shaped leaves and a thick fleshy root. The dried juice, virgin scammony, obtained by incision of the living root, has been used in medicine as scammonium, but the variable quality of the drug has led to the employment of scammoniae resina, which is obtained from the dried root by digestion with alcohol.

The active principle is the glucoside scammonin or jalapin, C34H114O6. The dose of scammonium is 5 to 10 grains, of scammony resin 3 to 8 grains. Like certain other resins, scammony is inert until it has passed from the stomach into the duodenum, where it meets the bile, a chemical reaction occurring between it and the taurocholate and glycocholate of sodium, whereby it is converted into a powerful purgative. Its action is essentially that of a hydragogue, and is exercised upon practically the entire length of the alimentary canal. The drug is not a cholagogue, nor does it markedly affect the muscular coat of the bowel, but it causes a great increase of secretion from the intestinal glands. It acts in about four hours. In large doses it is, of course, a violent gastrointestinal irritant. In consonance with the statement that scammony acts only after admixture with the bile, is the fact that hypodermic or intravenous injection of the drug produces no purgation, or indeed any other result. The drug frequently kills both roundworm and tapeworm, especially the former, and is therefore an anthelmintic. It is not largely used, but is very effective in the treatment of severe constipation, especially in children.

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • scammony — [skam′ə nē] n. pl. scammonies [ME skamonye < L scammonia < Gr skammōnia] 1. a climbing Asian convolvulus (Convolvulus scammonia) with thick roots, arrowhead shaped leaves, and white or purplish flowers 2. a) any of several plants whose… …   English World dictionary

  • Scammony — Scam mo*ny (sk[a^]m m[ o]*n[y^]), n. [F. scammon[ e]e, L. scammonia, scammonea, Gr. skammwni a.] 1. (Bot.) A species of bindweed or Convolvulus ({C. Scammonia}). [1913 Webster] 2. An inspissated sap obtained from the root of the {Convolvulus… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scammony — noun (plural nies) Etymology: Middle English scamonie, from Old English & Anglo French; Old English scammoniam, from Latin scammonia, from Greek skammōnia; Anglo French scamonie, from Latin Date: before 12th century 1. a twining convolvulus… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • scammony — The plant, Convolvulus scammonia (family Convolvulaceae), the dried root of which contains a cathartic resin. SEE ALSO: ipomea. [G. skammonia] * * * scam·mo·ny skam ə nē n, pl nies 1) a twining plant of the genus Convolvulus …   Medical dictionary

  • scammony — dervinis vijoklis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Vijoklinių šeimos augalas (Convolvulus scammonia), paplitęs pietų Europoje ir pietvakarių Azijoje. Iš jo gaunami lipai. atitikmenys: lot. Convolvulus scammonia angl. scammony pranc.… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • scammony — scammoniate /ska moh nee it/, adj. /skam euh nee/, n., pl. scammonies. a twining, Asian convolvulus, Convolvulus scammonia. [bef. 1000; ME scamonie, OE < L scamonia < Gk skamonía] * * * …   Universalium

  • scammony — noun Convolvulus scammonia, a twining perennial bindweed native to the eastern part of the Mediterranean basin, whose juice has been used in medicine as scammonium …   Wiktionary

  • scammony — n. variety of plant from the morning glory family (Botany) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • scammony — [ skaməni] noun a plant of the convolvulus family, the dried roots of which yield a powerful purgative. [Two species: Convolvulus scammonia of Asia and Ipomoea orizabensis of Mexico.] Origin OE, from OFr. escamonie or L. scammonia, from Gk… …   English new terms dictionary

  • scammony — scam·mo·ny …   English syllables

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