Open AccessThe Biological Assay Of Vegetable Purgatives
Author(s) -
Lou T. C.
Publication year - 1949
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 2042-7158
pISSN - 0022-3573
DOI - 10.1111/j.2042-7158.1949.tb12480.x
Subject(s) - glycoside , traditional medicine , senna , toxicology , standard curve , dosing , chromatography , chemistry , mathematics , medicine , pharmacology , biology , stereochemistry
Summary1 A method for the biological assay of vegetable purgatives based on the number of wet fæces produced by groups of mice after dosing is described. 2 The relation of the number of wet fæces per kg. of mouse to the logarithm of the dose was found to be linear. 3 40 mice divided equally into 4 groups were used in each assay.*** 2 groups received the standard preparation and the other 2 groups received the test preparation. The standard deviation of a single determination based on 9 such assays was estimated to be 15ṁ7 per cent. The limits of error (P = 0ṁ99) for a single assay are 100±40ṁ5 per cent. 4 A special cage has been designed for this assay, and it has been found advantageous to incorporate a definite proportion of water in the diet, during test. 5 The method described is not only convenient in use but also gives a comparatively high degree of accuracy. 6 The method has been successfully applied to senna leaf, senna fruit and extracts and commercial preparations made from these drugs, pure glycosides (sennosides A and B), and pure anthracene compounds (aloe‐emodin and aloe‐emodin anthranol).