Extractum Hydrastis. U. S.

Botanical name: 

Extractum Hydrastis. U. S.

Extract of Hydrastis. Ext. Hydrast. [Extract of Golden Seal, Powdered Extract of Hydrastis]

Related entries: Hydrastis

"Extract of Hydrastis yields not less than 9 per cent. nor more than 11 per cent. of the ether-soluble alkaloids of hydrastis. One gramme of the Extract represents about four grammes of hydrastis." U. S.

"Hydrastis, in No. 40 powder, one thousand grammes [or 35 ounces av., 120 grains]; Tartaric Acid, five grammes [or 77 grains]; Alcohol, Magnesium Oxide, Starch, dried at 100° C. (212° F.), each, a sufficient quantity. Dissolve the tartaric acid in one thousand mils [or 33 fluidounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms] of alcohol, moisten the drug with sufficient of this solution and pack in a cylindrical percolator; then add enough of the acidified alcohol, followed by alcohol if necessary, to saturate the powder and leave a stratum above it. When the liquid begins to drop from the percolator, close the lower orifice, and, having closely covered the percolator, macerate for forty-eight hours. Then allow the percolation to proceed slowly, adding alcohol as required, until the drug is exhausted. Recover the alcohol from the percolate by distillation, and evaporate the residue to a soft extract, with frequent stirring, at a temperature not exceeding 70° C. (158° F.). Add fifty grammes [or 1 ounce av., 334 grains] of a mixture of one part of magnesium oxide and three parts of the dried starch, mix thoroughly and spread the mass in a thin layer on glass or tinned-metal plates or in a porcelain dish and continue the drying in an air bath at a temperature not exceeding 70° C. (158° F.), until thoroughly dry. Then reduce the extract to a fine powder and weigh it. Assay a portion of this product as directed below, and, from the alkaloidal content thus determined, ascertain by calculation the amount of alkaloids in the remainder of the powder and add to this enough of the mixture of magnesium oxide and dried starch, made in the same proportion as before, to make the finished Extract contain 10 per cent. of the ether-soluble alkaloids of hydrastis. Mix the powders thoroughly, pass the Extract through a fine sieve, transfer it to small, wide-mouthed bottles and stopper them tightly." U. S.

"Assay.—Introduce 3 Gm. of Extract of Hydrastis into a 250 mil flask, add 10 Gm. of washed sand and mix thoroughly. Then add 150 mils of ether and 5 mils of ammonia water. Shake the mixture vigorously every ten minutes during a half hour, and when the dregs have settled decant 100 mils of the clear liquid, representing two grammes of the Extract. Proceed as directed under Belladonna Radix, eleventh line of the Assay, beginning with the word "Filter," modifying the process there given by using ether instead of chloroform for the final shaking out of the alkaloids, and drying the residue to constant weight at 100° C. (212° F.), instead of titrating it. The weight will be the amount of ether-soluble alkaloids from two grammes of Extract of Hydrastis," U. S.

Uses.—This extract wag introduced into the U. S. P. IX to furnish a convenient method of administering hydrastis (see Hydrastis).

Dose, five to ten grains (0.3-0.6 Gm.).


The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, was edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others.