Sugar and Sugar Containing Drugs
Specimen English Name Vernacular Name Scientific Name and Family (Botanical Origin)
Part Used(Origin) Important Markings Major Constituents Uses
Sucrose Cane Sugar, Refined sugar Asukal, Tubo
Stem of sugarcane (saccharum officinarum) –
Family: Poaceae Roots of sugarbeets (Beta
vulgaris) – Family: Chenopodiaceae
white, odorless, crystalline powder monosaccharides - glucose and fructose
Pharmaceutical aid (syrup), demulcent, nutrient, bacteriostatic,
preservative, mask disagreeable taste and retards oxidation Of iron
prep.
a. Medicinal: Relieve pain in infants
b. Pharmaceutical: Sweetening agent and as pharmaceutical aid c. Commercial: Used in food
as a preservative, additive and sweetener
Manna
Manna Ash or South European Flowering
Ash Tubang-americano Fraxinus ornus (Oleaceae) Dried exudate from stem
Bark – dark gray and smooth
Leaf - opposite pairs, pinnate, 20-30 cm long, with 5-9 leaflets; the leaflets are broad ovoid, 5-10 cm long and 2-4 cm broad, with a finely serrated and wavy margin, and short but distinct petiolules 5–15 mm long
mannose, mannitol (from mannose reduction),Glucose (seed),Saponin
(leaves)
Osmotic diuretic, laxative, diabetic food, bacteriological culture media,
diagnostic aid
Triticum Couch grass, Witch grass, Dog grass, Bermuda Grass
Agropyron repens
(Poaceae) dried rhizomes and roots
Rhizome is hollow except at the nodes, strongly furrowed longitudinally. Where the nodes occur, traces of rootlets may be found on the under surfaces and the fibrous
remains of sheathing leaf-bases on the upper surfaces.
Triticin, Dextrose, Levulose
Medicinally: for irritable bladder and cystitis, a stimulant, refrigerant, diuretic Pharmaceutically: sweetener
Cherry
Wild Cherry, Sweet Cherry, Mazzard, Wild Cherry, Sweet Cherry, Bird Cherry,
Gean
Prunus cerasus
(Rosaceae) Fruit distinct reddish brown bark
malic acid, anthocyanins, flavonols, citric acid, sucrose, glucose, fructose
and sorbitol
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, sedative,
antitussive a. Medicinal: cough
(whooping) and cold remedy, asthma, used for treatment of indigestion, worms, burns, labor pains, diarrhea, headache, bronchitis and tuberculosis, cystitis, oedema. Blood tonic. Antioxidant. b. Pharmaceutical: Antitussive; Astringent; Diuretic;Tonic; Antispasmodic; Inhalant c. Commercial: Flavorant;
preservative; Dye; Furniture (Bark); turnery;
ingredient in prep og cherry syrup; flavored vehicle to disguise
pharmaceutical mixtures
Fig
Common Fig, Fig, Edible Fig, Ficus
Passa, Caricae Igos, Higo, Higos Ficus carica (Moraceae) Fruit (partially dried)
Leaf: deciduous leaves are palmate, deeply divided into 3 to 7 main lobes, and irregularly toothed on the margins. The blade is up to 10 inches in length and width, fairly thick, rough on the upper surface, softly hairy on the underside.
Flower: small and inconspicuous Trunk/bark/branches: droop as the tree grows
Breakage: susceptible to breakage either at the crotch due to poor collar formation, or the wood itself is weak and tends to break
Glucose, starch, gum, mucilage
Suppresant, Diuretic, Blood purifier, Aphrodisiac agent Demulcent, laxative, nutrient Medicinal
>colds, soothing the mucous membranes of our respiratory tract.
> boils and small (maturating) tumors.
> White, milky juice extracted from the stems and leaves is used for removal of warts.
>treatment of gumboils, dental abscesses
> Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
Pharmaceutical: >It is usually employed in preparations of laxative syrups, combined with Senna and carminatives.
> laxative
> expectorant and analgesic > Demulcent,
>Emollient >Poultice Commercial:
(Mostly used when dried) >Jam
>Fig-roll or Fig-Newton (biscuit filling)
>Alcohol is obtained from fermented Figs
Cassia fistula
Golden Shower Tree, Caña fistula, Pudding Pipe Tree, Indian Laburnum, Purging Cassia Fistula, Cana Pistula Kañapestula, kanyapistula, lapad-lapad, Lombayong
Old: Cassia fistula, New: Cathartocarpus
fistula
(Fabaceae) Dried fruit (pulp)
Pods finely striated transversely, the striations appearing as fine fissures. The
rounded distal ends bear a small point marking the position of the style. It is divided by thin, buff coloured, transverse dissepiments at intervals of about 0.5cm. Each compartment contains one seed which
is flat, oval, reddish brown with a well-marked raphe.
sugar, pectin, tannins, albuminous principle
laxative or purgative; to treat skin infections; cathartic; sometimes
added to tobacco and smoked;Suppresant, Diuretic; Blood purifier; Aphrodisiac agent
Tamarind Tamarind, Tamarindo Sampalok Tamarindus indica (Fabaceae) Partially dried fruit edible, pod-like fruit Tartaric, Citric, Malic acid refrigerant, laxative, purgative Astringent, Tonic Apple Apple, Pyrus malus Mansanas Malus domestica (Rosaceae) Longitudinal portion contains 5 seed cavities with generally 2 seeds each sugar, malic and ascorbic acid reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, antioxidant
Polysaccharides – Starches
Specimen English Name Vernacular Name
Scientific Name and Family (Botanical
Origin) Part Used (Origin) Important Markings Major Constituents Uses
Corn Starch Corn, Maize Mais (Gramineae) Zea mays Endosperm (corn kernel)
The grains are about the size of peas, and adhere in regular rows round a white, pithy substance, which forms the
ear
Anthocyanin, Tannin
Thickening agent, Diuretic, Poultice a. Medicinal
Considered anodyne, antilithic, antiseptic, cholaggogue, demulcent, diuretic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, lithotriptic, tonic, vasodilator
b. Pharmaceutical
Its starch is used as thickening agent Source of corn syrup
Rice Starch Rice flour, Rice powder Galapong Oryza sativa (Poaceae) Grains Starch, Proteins, Iron, Calcium
Thickening agent, binder, alternative to all-purpose flour
a. Medicinal- antidiarrheal, antigastric, demulcent b. Pharmaceutical- thickening agent, emollient c. Commercial- nutritional staple food, Rice bran is a
healthy additive to the making of muffins, cakes, cookies, providing both fiber and nutritive value.
Wheat Starch Wheat Trigo Triticumaestivum L. (Poaceae) Caryopsis, grains Essential amino acids, Pectin
Pastes, Explosives, Sizing textiles, Alcoholic beverage, Synthetic rubber
Uses:
a. Medicinal- base for nourishment, for
detoxification, treatment of ulcerative colitis and red blood cell formation
b. Pharmaceutical – thickening agent
c. Commercial- flour, bread (and the like) making
Arrowroot
Starch Arrowroot Araro
Marantaarundinaceae L.
(Marantaceae) Rhizome (rootstock)
It is a low perennial herbaceous plant with thick, fleshy and creeping roots and
long white fibers B-carotene, Niacin, Thiamine
Antidiarrheal, Sweetener Uses:
a. Medicinal – Remedy for diarrhea, dietary aid in gastrointestinal disorders, and applied on the skin to soothe painful, irritated, or inflamed mucous membranes.
b. Pharmaceutical - thickeners, starches, gels, stabilizers and emulsifiers
c. Commercial - used in making puddings, cakes, biscuits, hot sauces and noodles, used in making carbonless copy paper
Potato Starch Potato Patatas Solanumtuberosum (Solanaceae) Tuber Tannin, Sugars
Thickeners, binders, used to manufacture alcoholic beverages
b. Pharmaceutical – starch as disintegrant or diluents filler of tablets and capsules
c. Commercial - Boiled with weak sulphuric acid, potato starch is changed into glucose, or grape sugar, which by fermentation yields alcohol this spirit being often sold under the name of British Brandy. Ripe potato juice is an excellent cleaner of silks, cottons and woollens. Flour for cake-making.
Cassava
Starch Manioc, Tapioca, Cassava Kamotengkahoy Manihotesculenta (Euphibiaceae) Tuber, leaves
The cassava root is long and tapered, with a firm, homogeneous flesh encased
in a detachable rind, about 1mm thick, rough and brown on the outside.
Cyanogenic glycoside
Antibacterial, Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antiamoebacidal
Medicinal: relieves rheumatism, headache, rashes, prickly heat
Commercial: biofuel, animal feed, production of glue
Banana Starch Banana, Plantain Saging Musa sapentum (Musaceae) Fruit, leaves, bark
typical grains elongated, pyriform-, sack-, sausage-, cigar-, or sickle-shaped,
some with protuberances. Up to 85 microns in length.
25% starch, 5% proteins and others, and 70% water
Rich in vitamins A, B, and C; a fair source of iron. Plant fibers used in the manufacture of paper and
clothes.
Gabi Starch Taro Gabi, Lagbai, Abalong Colocasiaesculenta Linn.
(Araceae) Tuber
ling stalked herbaceous plant with tuberous, enlarged and storage roots. The leaves are large, petiolated, ovate, glaucous, margins entire, and a broad triangular base with petiole attached to
a third or half of the leaf. Green and purple petioles are observed. The inflorescence observed is a spadix which
is smaller than the spathe and is usually green to yellow.
Flavonoids, glucose, sucrose, fructose, fiber, maltose
Laxative, used for internal hemorrhages, otalgia and adenitis. Tubers are used for rheumatic joints, for Alopecia
a. Medicinal - used to arrest arterial hemorrhage. It is sometimes used in earache and otorrhoea and also an external stimulant and rubefacient. The juice of the corm of this species is used in cases of alopecia. Internally it acts as a laxative, and is used in cases of piles and congestion of the portal system, and also an antidote to the stings of wasps and other insects. c. Commercial – used in cooking
Lima Bean
Starch Lima bean, Butter bean Patani Phaseoluslunatus (Fabaceae) Seed
The pods are up to 15 cm long. The mature seeds are 1 to 3 cm long and oval
to kidney shaped. In most varieties the seeds are quite flat, but in the "potato"
varieties the shape approaches spherical. White seeds are common, but black, red, orange and variously mottled seeds are also known. The immature
seeds are uniformly green.
Hydrocyanic acid, cyanide, trypsin-inhibitor, lectin, phytin
and tannin Contains linamarin
Hypolipidemic
Lunatusin / Antimicrobial / Antimicrobial / Antiproliferative
Estrogen-like Activity
Trypsin Inhibitors / Reverse Transcriptase Inhibition
Ginger Starch Ginger Luya Zingiberofficinale (Zingiberaceae) rhizome Rhizomes - knobbly and fleshy, covered in ring-like scars. terpenoids
Teas, stimulant, carminative, GIT-related illnesses, treatment for the common cold
a. medicinal: It is used to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, pregnancy, and cancer chemotherapy, for the treatment of colds. It is also used as a digestive aid for mild stomach upset, to reduce pain of osteoarthritis
(anti-inflammatory), and may even be used in heart disease or cancer.
b. pharmaceutical: binder c. commercial: cooking spice
Green Pea Starch
Green pea, Pea, Garden Pea, Snow
Pea citzaro, chicaro
Pisumsativum (Fabaceae)
The small spherical seed or the seed-pod of
the pod fruit. Each pod contains several peas.
A long, weak annual herb with hollow stems, 1-2 m long. Leaves abruptly pinnate with auricled stipules, in two or three pairs of broad
oval leaflets;
Flowers white, blue or purple (pink). Pods straight or curved, 5-10 cm long;
seeds 6-9
fiber, protein, vitamins (folate and vitamin C), minerals (iron, magnesium, phosphorus and
zinc), and lutein. starch, albuminoids, an oil,
galactolipids, alkaloids, trigonelline and piplartine,
essential oil, soluble carbohydrates, D-alanine.
refrigerant, appetizer, fattening, laxative, alleviative of bile, phlegm and burning of the skin. Flour from the seeds is considered emollient and
resolvent and it is applied as cataplasm a. Medicinal: "Seeds are thought to cause dysentery when eaten raw. In Spain, flour is considered emollient and resolvent, applied as a cataplasm. It has been reported that seeds contain trypsin and chymotrypsin which could be used for contraceptive, ecbolic. fungistatic and spermicide"(Duke, 1981). Smart (1990) reported that there are no significant amounts of toxicity or anti-metabolites in peas. b. Pharmaceutical:
c. Commercial: production of bioplastic
Sago Starch Sagu, Tapioca balls Sago Metroxylonsagu (Arecaceae)
starch extracted in the spongy center, or pith, of various tropical palm
stems
The stems, which grow to 30 feet (9 meters high), are split out. The starch pith is taken from the stems
and ground to powder.
Glucose and other carbohydrates
Thickener, textile, paper, sugar a. Medicinal: used as a source of carbohydrate b. Pharmaceutical: dusting powder
c. Commercial:
Paper production Textile production
Commercially used in making noodles and flour
Thickener in dishes
Camote Starch Sweet Potato Kamote, Camote Ipomoea batatas Linn. (Convulvulaceae) Tuber
The edible tuberous root is long and tapered, with a smooth skin whose color
ranges between yellow, orange, red, brown, purple, and beige. Its flesh ranges from beige through white, red, pink, violet, yellow, orange, and purple.
Sweet potato varieties with white or pale yellow flesh are less sweet and moist than those with red, pink or
orange flesh.
polyphenolics - anthocyanins and phenolic acids
Good source of vitamins A, B and C, iron, calcium and phosphorus
High in complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber; deficient in protein.
a. Medicinal: Plant pacifies vitiated vata, pitta, burning sensations, constipation, general weakness, renal calculi, and sexual stimulant.
b. Pharmaceutical:
Antibiotic, bacteriostatic, fungistatic, Upper Respiratory Treatment, Skin Relief, Gastrointestinal Relief, Fever Reducer, Diabetes Treatment, Immune
Booster, Powerful Antioxidant, Mineral Salts c. Commercial: Starch and industrial alcohol production, dyes, stains, inks, tattoos and mordants
Polysaccharides – Cellulose Filament of Cotton in water
Filament of Cotton in Schweitzer’s Reagent
Specimen English Name Vernacular Name Scientific Name and Family
(Botanical Origin) Part Used (Origin) Important Markings Major Constituents Uses
Cotton Cotton Bulak Gossypium hirsutum (Malvaveae) cotton fruit or boll, around the sound hair of the seeds
soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of
cotton plants cellulose
made into surgical cotton, made into gun cotton for explosives, mechanical protectant, avoid microbial growth
made into pulp for papermaking a. Medicinal - Used to treat nasal polyps, asthma, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, dysentery, uterine fibroids and certain cancers, antifertility, antitumor, antiparasite, and anti-HIV b. Pharmaceutical – Diuretic widely used in China as a male contraceptive
c. Commercial - Ornamental, insecticide, textile industry (string and fabric), raw cottonseed oil as cooking oil, shortening, soaps, cosmetics
Carbohydrate Derivatives – Gums &Mucilages
Specimen English Name Vernacular Name Scientific Name and Family
(Botanical Origin) Part Used (Origin) Important Markings Major Constituents Uses
Tears of Acacia
Arabic gum, Gum arabic, Gum acacia, Gum mimosae, Gum Senegal, Galam Gum Acacia Senegal
(Fabaceae) Stems and branches
roundish tears of various sizes, or broken into angular fragments, with a glass-like, sometimes iridescent fracture, opaque from numerous fissures, but transparent
and nearly colorless in thin pieces;spheroidal tears of varying size with
a matte surface texture
polysaccharides and their calcium, magnesium, and potassium salts, which on hydrolysis yield arabinose, galactose, rhamnose, and glucuronic
acid. arabin
Emulsifier, stabilizer, nutritive, demulcent and thickener Suspending agent, emollient,
adhesive, binder a. Medicinal: cure for rabies (folk medicine)
b. Pharmaceutical: Gum Arabic: A substance used in adhesives, some medicines, and as a thickening agent in frozen desserts, astringent medicine,Tannin: Found in the bark of the tree, tannin is used to dye ink.
c. Commercial: ornaments(leaves, flowers, tree itself, timber); paints; blossoms or flowers (added as a
flavoring to desserts and liqueur); the flower's essential oils are also used in perfumes; pulpwood; land reclamation; wood (used to make flooring, furniture, jewelry, weapons and toy); and seeds (some can be eaten raw or ground and added to sauces).
Tragacanth Goat’s thorn Gum dragon, Syrian tragacanth Gum tragacanth Astragalus gummifer (Fabaceae)
Gummy exudates (stem),
Dried sap Gummy, mucilaginous sap Tragacanthin, Bassorin Suspending/ Emulsifying agent, adhesive, demulcent, stabilizer
Agar Agar-Agar, Agar Weed, Japanese/Chinese Isinglass, Red Algae, Ceylon Moss, Ictiocola, Veg. Gulaman Gulaman Gelidium cartilagineum (Gelidiaceae), Gracilaria conferviodes (Sphaerococcaceae) Entire Plant
This perennial seaweed grows up to three feet long, comprising of reddish-brown, translucent, multibranched ribbons and fronds, called thalli (singular thallus), that sprout from a permanent base every year.
The thallus is cylindrical or flattened, subdivided, and tough
Agarose Agaropectin
Microbiology – Culture Media Pharmacy- Laxative, gelling agent, thickening agent, stabilizer, bulking agent, suspending agent, emulsifier, surgical lubricant, tab excipient, disintegrant
Other uses – thickening agent, clarifying agent, vegetarian gelatin substitute a. Medicinal: treatment of constipation, hemorrhoids, obesity b. Pharmaceutical: Laxative c. Commercial: stabilizer, thickening, gelling, bulking agent and food additive, “gulaman”
Animal Gelatin Gelatin, Collagen Hydrolysate, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Marine Collagen Hydrolysate Animal sources: Bos taurus (Bovidae) Sus scrofa (Suldae) Ovis aries (Bovidae)
Collagen (which is obtained from various
animal products)
A translucent, colorless, brittle (when dry),
flavorless solid substance Chondrin (gelatinizing agent) Glutin (adhesive substance)
Gels, in the manufacture of capsule shells, cosmetics, in weight loss, in the manufacture of paper, culture media base, food, suppository vehicle, emulsifying agent, coat
pills
Althea Root
Marshmallow root, Sweet Weed,
Althea, march mallow, white mallow root, Mallards, Mortification Root Marshmallow Halamanngmasmelow,
HalamangMarsmalo Althaea officinalis (Malvaceae) Roots
small scars in the roots parallel to each other and projections of roots. brown corky layer and small roots
altheahexacosanyl lactone, 2β-hydroxycalamene (altheacalamene) and altheacoumaringlucoside, along
with the known phytoconstituentslauric acid,
β-sitosterol and lanosterol
expectorant, soothes and softens tissues while controlling bacterial infections, confection, forms protective layer of mucilage on the
mucous linings of the body, treat inflammation and ulceration of
digestive system, used also externally for localized inflammation, aphrodisiac, antacid
gargle for sore throat, demulcent, excipient
throats, bronchitis, and for dry hacking coughs,
b. Pharmaceutical:, expectorant, laxative
Mallow Leaf Malvas, Common Mallow Corchorusolitorius
(Malvaceae) Leaves
The plants are tall, usually annual herbs, reaching a height of 2-4 m, unbranched or with only a few side branches. The leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate, 5-15 cm long, with an acuminate tip and a finely serrated or lobed margin. The flowers are small (2-3 cm diameter) and yellow, with five petals; the fruit is a many-seeded capsule. It thrives almost anywhere, and
can be grown year-round.
Ca, P, Fe, K, Fiber, Vit. A, thiamine, ascorbic acid, riboflavin
Antioxidant Anti-inflammatory Excipient, demulcent a. Medicinal:
Indicated for: Coughs and bronchitis; inflammations of the mouth and throat
b. Pharmaceutical: plant is largely used as an
emollient
fruit: demulcent and emollient; leaves: emollient
c. Commercial: Decoration, Food, Natural yellow dye
Elm Bark Slippery Elm, Red Elm Ulmus fulva (Ulmaceae) Bark deeply furrowed and brownish red Galactose, Mucilage (Rhamnose, Galacturonic acid, Xylose)
Industrial-can be spun into thread, twine, or rope
Pharmacological- demulcent, tea, nutritional supplement, abordifacient
Medicinal-Sore throat, Cough, Gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD), Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrom (IBS), Diarrhea, Wounds, burns, boils, psoriasis, and other skin conditions (external) Demulcent, emollient
Chondrus crispus
Irish moss or Carrageenan
moss Gulaman Chondrus crispus (Gigartinaceae) Whole plant (dried)
this protist is soft and cartilaginous, varying in color from a greenish-yellow, through red, to a dark purple or
purplish-brown. It grows from a discoid holdfast and branches four or five
times in a dichotomous, fan-like manner
Demulcent,Bulk laxative, thickener
and stabilizer Carageenan hydrocolloids, Galactans
Gigartina
mamillosa Gigartina mamilosa (Gigartinaceae) Marine plant Soothe mucus membranes and skin, bulk laxative, thickening agent
Carrageenan, mucilage, iodine, bromine, iron, and vitamins A and
