Synonym. - Brazilian Cocoa. A dried paste chiefly consisting of the crushed or pounded seeds of Paullinia Cupana, Kunth (Paullinia sorbilis, Martius; nat. ord., Sapindaceae.)

Habitat

Northern and Western Brazil.

Characters

Subglobular or elliptic cakes, or cylindrical sticks, hard, dark reddish-brown; fracture uneven, somewhat glossy, pale reddish-brown, showing fragments of seeds invested with blackish-brown integuments; odor slight, peculiar, resembling that of chocolate; taste, astringent and bitter.

Solubility

It is partly soluble in water, and in Alcohol.

Composition

The chief constituents are (1) Guaranine, identical with Caffeine, 4 to 5 per cent. {see p 388); (2) Volatile Oil, a trace; (3) Saponin; (4) Tannic acid.

Dose, 1/4 to 1 dr.; 1. to 4. gm.

Preparation

Extractum Guaranae Fluidum. Fluid Extract Of Guarana

By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and water, and evaporation. Dose, 1/4 to 1 fl. dr.; 1. to 4. c.c.

Action And Therapeutics Of Guarana

Although there is no reason to believe that guaranine does not produce the same action on the nervous system, heart and kidneys as caffeine, yet it is rarely used except for sick headaches; but in these cases it is sometimes of the greatest service.