Ipecac Health Dictionary

Cephaelis ipecacuanha

Rubiaceae

Importance: Ipecac is a small evergreen herb with much branched beaded roots. It is used in powdered form or as liquid total extract, syrup and tincture. Ipecac syrup in small doses is used as an expectorant, as it is well tolerated by children. It is used in treatment of whooping cough. Ipecac with opium as in Dover’s powder is used as a diaphoretic, tincture and syrup. Emetine hydrochloride in the form of injection is used for treatment of amoebic dysentery. Emetine bismuth iodide is also given orally for amoebic dysentery. Ipecac is also used as gastric stimulant and as an anti-inflammatory agent in rheumatism.

Distribution: The plant is a native of Bolivia and Brazil. It is cultivated in Mungpoo, near Darjeeling and on the Nilgiris, especially New Kallar, and at the Rungbee Cinchona plantation in Sikkim.

Botany: Cephaelis ipecacuanha (Brot.) A. Rich. syn. Psychotria ipecacuanha Stokes. belongs to the family Rubiaceae. The plant grows upto 0.7m high, with slender cylindrical stem. When mature the roots are dark brown and have transverse furrows giving it a beaded appearance. Above ground stem is quadrangular and trailing with few or new branches. Leaves are opposite near the top of the plant and alternate below, 5-10x3-6cm area, dark green above and pale green underneath. Flowers are white, sessile, funnel-like, less than 1cm wide and are borne in dense clusters. Fruit is purple with two stones containing single seed (Husain, 1993).

Agrotechnology: Ipecac prefers an average rainfall ranging between 2000-3000mm and evenly distributed. Maximum temperature should not exceed 38 C and the minimum not below 10 C. It thrives well in tropical mild humid climates similar to Malaysian rain forests. Virgin forest soils rich in humus are ideal for Ipecac. It prefers deep medium fertile soils which are acidic and rich in humus, potash and magnesium. Soil should be well drained and protected from wind and storm. As Ipecac grows only in shade, it can be cultivated as an intercrop, or planted in artificially shaded beds. The plant is propagated both by seeds and vegetatively by root, stem and leaf cuttings. Vegetative propagation is preferred to maintain genetic uniformity of the plant. Most of the commercial plantations are raised by seeds. Raised seed beds of 2x6m size are made and are mi xed with well rotten leaf compost and sand. These are provided with shade on the top as well as on the sides. Seeds are drilled or broadcasted in the beds and watered regularly. Seeds take 3-5 months to germinate. Seed treatment with limewater for 48 hours or H2O2 improves germination. It has been observed that providing mulch or black polythene in nursery beds improves germination as well as results in control of weeds. The suitable season of planting is January-March in West Bengal. Seedlings are planted in production beds at a spacing of 10x10cm after they are 8-12 weeks old. In West Bengal, it is a practice to transfer seedlings to other nursery beds before being transferred to final production seedbeds. FYM and leaf compost application is required during second and third year. Super phosphate applications is found to improve root growth. Frequent irrigation is required. Waterlogging should be avoided. Both the seedbeds and production beds should be kept free from weeds. Seedlings are often attacked by damping off fungi like Rhizoctonia sp. in nursery. It is better to treat the seeds with a suitable seed dressing fungicide before planting. Fusarium wilt caused by F. moniliforme has been reported from India. The plants are ready for harvesting after 4 years. The roots should be dug out, washed and dried in the sun. Rhizome and root are the economical parts (Husain, 1993).

Properties and activity: Ipecac root contains 2.2-2.5% total alkaloids. The main alkaloids are cephaeline and emetine. In addition, it also contains psychotrine and psychotrine ethyl ether. The drug also contains a crystalline glucosidal tannin, starch and calcium oxalate (60-70% of the alkaloids is emetine). Root contains minor amounts of O-methyl psychotrine, emetamine, protoemetine and others. Other constituents of ipecac include choline, glycoside-ipecoside, saponins, resins, tannins-ipecacuanhin, an allergen composed of mixture of glycoproteins, ipecacuanhic acid, a neutral monoterpene acid and calcium oxalate. Cephaeline could be converted into emetine on methylation.

The powdered dried rhizome and root cause severe asthmatic attacks and vasomotorrhinitis. Emetine hydrochloride is anti-amoebic. Root is emetic, expectorant and diaphoretic (Husain et al, 1992).