541. Viburnum Prunifolium.—Black Haw.
The dried bark of the root of Vibur'num prunifo'lium Linné or of V. lentago Linné, without admixture of more than 5 per cent. of wood or other foreign matter.
BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS.—A tall shrub or small tree. Leaves oval, obtuse, or slightly pointed, finely serrate. Cymes compound, sessile. Fruit an oval, black, sweet drupe.
HABITAT.—Middle and Southern United States, east of the Mississippi.
DESCRIPTION OF DRUG.—In irregular, transversely curved or quilled pieces from 1.5 to 6 cm. in length, and from 0.5 to 1.5 mm. in thickness; outer surface, grayish-brown, or, where the outer cork has scaled off, brownish-red, longitudinally wrinkled; inner surface reddish-brown, longitudinally striated; fracture short but uneven, showing in bark which is young or of medium thickness, a dark brown cork, a brownish-red outer cortex, and a whitish inner cortex in which are numerous light yellow groups of sclerenchymatous tissues; odor slight; taste distinctly bitter and somewhat astringent. U.S.P. IX.
Powder.—Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. I, B.
CONSTITUENTS.—A brown resin, a bitter principle (viburnin), valerianic acid, tannic acid, oxalic, malic, and citric acids, sulphates, and chlorides.
ACTION AND USES.—Diuretic, and a tonic and sedative to the uterine and ovarian nerve centers; used in threatened abortion. Dose: 30 to 60 gr. (2 to 4 Gm.).
- OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS.
- Extractum Viburni Prunifolii Dose: 0.5 Gm. (8 gr.).
- Fluidextractum Viburni Prunifolii 30 to 60 drops (2 to 4 mils)
