Araroba powder

Araroba powder

Araroba powder is a drug occurring in the form of a yellowish-brown powder, varying considerably in tint, which derives an alternative name, Goa powder, from the Portuguese colony of Goa, where it appears to have been introduced about the year 1852, and is also known as Bahia powder [ [http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/andira-arar.html Araroba.—Goa Powder. | Henriette's Herbal Homepage ] ] .

The tree which yields it is the "Andira Araroba" of the natural order "Leguminosae". It is met with in great abundance in certain forests in the province of Bahia, preferring as a rule low and humid spots. The tree is from 80 to 100 ft. high and has large imparipinnate leaves, the leaflets of which are oblong, about 12 in. long and 1 in. broad, and somewhat truncate at the apex. The flowers are papilionaceous, of a purple color and arranged in panicles.

The Goa powder or araroba is contained in the trunk, filling crevices in the heartwood. It is a morbid product in the tree, and yields to hot chloroform 50% of a substance known officially as chrysarobin, which has a definite therapeutic value and is contained in most modern pharmacopoeias. It occurs as a micro-crystalline, odorless, tasteless powder, very slightly soluble in either water or alcohol; it also occurs in rhubarb root. This complex mixture contains pure chrysarobin, di-chrysarobin methylether, di-chrysarobin. Chrysarobin is a methyl trioxyanthracene and exists as a glucoside in the plant, but is gradually oxidized to chrysophanic acid (a dioxy-methyl anthraquinone) and glucose. This strikes a blood-red color in alkaline solutions, and may therefore cause much alarm if administered to a patient whose urine is alkaline. The British pharmacopoeia has an ointment containing one part of chrysarobin and 24 of benzoated lard.

Both internally and externally the drug is a powerful irritant. The general practice amongst modern dermatologists is to use only chrysophanic acid, which may be applied externally and given by the mouth in doses of about one grain in cases of psoriasis and chronic eczema. The drug is a feeble parasiticide, and has been used locally in the treatment of ringworm. It stains the skin and linen a deep yellow or brown, a coloration which may be removed by caustic alkali in weak solution.

References

*1911


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  • araroba — [ar΄ə rō′bə, är΄ə rō′bə] n. [Port < Tupí name] 1. a bitter, yellow powder obtained from cavities in the trunk of a Brazilian tree (Andira araroba) of the pea family and used to make the drug chrysarobin; Goa powder 2. this tree …   English World dictionary

  • Araroba — Ar a*ro ba, n. [Tupi.] 1. Goa powder. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. A fabaceous tree of Brazil ({Centrolobium robustum}) having handsomely striped wood; called also {zebrawood}. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • araroba — noun a bitter yellow powder used to treat skin diseases • Syn: ↑Goa powder, ↑chrysarobin • Hypernyms: ↑powder * * * ˌarəˈrōbə noun ( s) Etymology …   Useful english dictionary

  • araroba — Goa powder Go a pow der [So called from Goa, on the Malabar coast, whither it was shipped from Portugal.] A bitter powder (also called {araroba}) found in the interspaces of the wood of a Brazilian tree ({Andira araroba}) and used as a medicine.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • araroba — /ar euh roh beuh/, n. 1. the wood of a Brazilian, leguminous tree, Andira araroba, from which Goa powder is derived. 2. Pharm. See Goa powder. [ < Pg < Tupi, perh. var. of ARARIBÁ] * * * …   Universalium

  • araroba — a•ra•ro•ba [[t]ˌær əˈroʊ bə[/t]] n. pl. bas 1) pln a Brazilian tree, Andira araroba, of the legume family, from which Goa powder is derived 2) pha pln Goa powder • Etymology: 1890–1900; < Pg < Tupi …   From formal English to slang

  • araroba — ar·a·ro·ba .ar ə rō bə n GOA POWDER …   Medical dictionary

  • Goa powder — noun a bitter yellow powder used to treat skin diseases • Syn: ↑araroba, ↑chrysarobin • Hypernyms: ↑powder * * * noun Usage: usually capitalized G Etymology: goa ( …   Useful english dictionary

  • Andira araroba — Goa powder Go a pow der [So called from Goa, on the Malabar coast, whither it was shipped from Portugal.] A bitter powder (also called {araroba}) found in the interspaces of the wood of a Brazilian tree ({Andira araroba}) and used as a medicine.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Goa powder — Go a pow der [So called from Goa, on the Malabar coast, whither it was shipped from Portugal.] A bitter powder (also called {araroba}) found in the interspaces of the wood of a Brazilian tree ({Andira araroba}) and used as a medicine. It is the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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