(Golden Seal.)

Origin. - The dried rhizome and roots of Hydrastis canadensis L., yielding, when assayed, not less than 2.5 per cent. of hydrastine. Closely related to strychnine in some particulars, and also having a marked action on unstriped muscle, raising blood-pressure, exerting an influence on the uterine muscle and on the walls of the stomach and bladder in the alkaloid hydrastine of hydrastis. Hydrastis is a perennial native to Canada and the United States east of the Mississippi, growing in rich woodlands and in the Southern States, confined to mountainous districts.

Description and Properties. - The rhizome is from 1 to 2 inches (2-5 Cm.) long and about 1/4 inch (6 Mm.) thick, oblique, with short branches, somewhat annulate and longitudinally wrinkled; externally brownish-gray; fracture short, waxy, reddish-yellow, with a thickish bark, about ten narrow wood-wedges, broad medullary rays, and large pith. Roots thin, brittle, with a thick yellow bark and subquadrangular woody center. Odor slight, taste bitter.

The principal constituents are hydrastine (colorless and slightly acrid), berberine (yellow and intensely bitter), and xanthopuccin or canadine. Berberine is also found in berberis, Colombo, menispermum, coptis, etc. Hydrastinine, an artificial alkaloid prepared from hydrastine, has a very marked action on blood-pressure.

Hydrastine is related chemically to narcotine, of the opium series.

Dose. - 30 grains (2 Gm.), U. S. P.

Official Preparations

Fluidextractum Hydrastis -Fluidextracti Hydrastis - Fluidextract of Hydrastis. - Dose, 10-30 minims (0.6-2.0 Cc.) [30 minims (2 Cc.), U. S. P.].

Glyceritum Hydrastis - Glyceriti Hydrastis - Glycerite of Hydrastis. - Used externally. - Dose, 30 minims (2.0 Cc.), U. S. P.

Tinctura Hydrastis - Tincturae Hydrastis - Tincture of Hydrastis (20 per cent.). - Dose, 30-60 minims (2.0-4.0 Cc.) [1 dram (4 Cc), U. S. P.J,

Hydrastina - Hydrastinae - Hydrastine. - An alkaloid obtained from hydrastis.

Origin, Description, and Properties. - Colorless, very brilliant, glassy crystals; taste slightly acrid; fully soluble in ether and chloroform, but freely soluble in water. - Dose, 1/32-1/2 grain (0.002-0.03 Gm.) [4 grain (0.01 Gm.), U. S. P.].