| Abstract (english) | Ephedrine is an alkaloid obtained from Ephedra sinica Stapf., E. equisetina
Bunge, and other species of Ephedra (Fam. Ephedraceae), but is usually
produced synthetically.
Ephedra or Ma-Huang is the entire plant or the overground portion of
Ephedra sinica grown in China. In Chinese characters »Ma« means astringent
and »Huang« means yellow, probably referring to the taste and colour
of the drug. It has been used as a medicine in China for more than five thousend
y ears. Its use in modern medicine began with the recent discovery of
the valuable properties of ephedrine. Allied Plants -in addition to Ephedra
sinica, the source of Ma-Huang, and E. equistina, the chief source of the alkaloid,
E. distachya L. also yields ephedrine. These plants grow in northern
China, India and in Europe.
Ephedra sinica Stapf. is a low shrub, 60 to 90 cm high, growing in sandy
or clay soil chiefly in northern Hopeh. E. sinica y ields 0.44 to 1.35% of total
alkaloids of which 75-85% represents ephedrine and 15 to 25% pseudoephedrine.
The drug is best gathered in autumn when its alkaloidal content is
greatest. This plant is known commercially as Tsaopen Ma-Huang.
Ephedra equisetina Bunge is a low woody Asiatic shrub, 1 to 2 m in
height with a long cronical root from which arises a much · branched stem.
E. equisetina yields from 0.6 to 1.75% of total alkaloids of which 85 to 90%
is ephedrine, and 10 to 15% pseudoephedrine. This plant is known commercially
as Mupen Ma-Huang.
Ephedra distachya L. is a low, rigid shrub (38 cm), growing along the
Hopeh-Shansi border and in Europe, in central Mediterranean countries.
The plant contains both ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, but the total alkaloid
y ield is about 30% less than E. sinica. It is collected in central China
and Europe and exported chiefly from Tien-tsin and Spain.
Ephedra gerardiana Wall., a dwarf species 15 to 60 cm high, is native
to the northwest Himalay as, in northern India, West Pakistan, Tibet and
China. In E. gerardiana total alkaloids vary from 0.8 to 1.4% of which 50%
is ephedrine.
Ephedra major Host (E. nebrodensis Tineo) grows wild in Afganistan, Pakistan
and in the Mediterranean area of Spain, in Sicily, but also in the
mountainous districts of Dalmatia (Biokovo and Mosor). |
