Cascara Sagrada Extract
»Cascara Sagrada Extract contains,in each 100g,not less than 10.0g and not more than 12.0g of hydroxyanthracene derivatives,of which not less than 50percent consists of cascarosides,both calculated as cascaroside A.
Mix 900g of Cascara Sagrada,in coarse powder,with 4000mLof boiling water,and macerate the mixture for 3hours.Then transfer it to a percolator,allow it to drain,exhaust it by percolation,using boiling water as the menstruum,and collect about 5000mLof percolate.Evaporate the percolate to dryness,reduce the extract to a fine powder,and,after assaying,add sufficient starch,dried at 100,or other inert,nontoxic diluents to make the product contain,in each 100g,11g of hydroxyanthracene derivatives.Mix the powders,and pass the Extract through a number 60sieve.
Packaging and storage— Preserve in tight,light-resistant containers,at a temperature not exceeding 30.
Assay for cascarosides— [NOTE1—Perform all extractions by shaking vigorously,and allow all phases to separate completely before transferring.Entrainment of aglycones into the aqueous phase,as indicated by a value of less than 2.7for the ratio of the absorbance of the final solution at 515nm to that at 440nm,may lead to false results.NOTE2—Throughout this assay,use 1Nsodium hydroxide that is prepared without added barium ions as directed for Volumetric Solutionsunder Reagents,Indicators,and Solutions.]
Ferric chloride solution— Dissolve 100g of ferric chloride in water to make 100mL.
Assay solution— Accurately weigh about 1g of Extract,and transfer to a 100-mLvolumetric flask.Add about 60mLof 70percent alcohol,swirl or sonicate for 15to 20minutes,several times,allow to stand overnight,sonicate or swirl for 10to 15minutes,dilute with 70percent alcohol to volume,mix,and filter through suitable filter paper.
Assay preparation— Prepare as directed for Assay preparationin the Assay for cascarosidesunder Cascara Sagrada.
Procedure— Pipet 25mLof Assay preparationinto a flask containing 2mLof Ferric chloride solutionand 12mLof hydrochloric acid.Proceed as directed for Procedurein the Assay for cascarosidesunder Cascara Sagrada,beginning with “Attach a condenser arranged for refluxing,and heat for 3hours.”Calculate the quantity,in mg,of cascarosides in the portion of Extract taken by the formula:
62.06AU,
in which AUis the absorbance of the solution from the Assay preparation.
Assay for total hydroxyanthracene derivatives— [NOTE1—Perform all extractions by shaking vigorously,and allow all phases to separate completely before transferring.Entrainment of aglycones into the aqueous phase,as indicated by a value of less than 2.6for the ratio of the absorbance of the final solution at 515nm to that at 440nm,may lead to false results.NOTE2—Throughout this assay,use 1Nsodium hydroxide that is prepared without added barium ions as directed for Volumetric Solutionsunder Reagents,Indicators,and Solutions.]
Ferric chloride solution and Assay solution—Prepare as directed in the Assay for cascarosides.
Assay preparation— Prepare as directed for Assay preparationin the Assay for total hydroxyanthracene derivativesunder Cascara Sagrada.
Procedure— Pipet 10mLof Assay preparationinto a flask containing 2mLof Ferric chloride solutionand 12mLof hydrochloric acid.Proceed as directed for Procedurein the Assay for cascarosidesunder Cascara Sagrada,beginning with “Attach a condenser arranged for refluxing,and heat for 3hours.”Calculate the quantity,in mg,of total hydroxyanthracene derivatives in the portion of Extract taken by the formula:
155.2AU,
in which AUis the absorbance of the solution from the Assay preparation.
Auxiliary Information— Staff Liaison:Gabriel I.Giancaspro,Ph.D.,Senior Scientist and Latin American Specialist
Expert Committee:(DSB)Dietary Supplements:Botanicals
USP28–NF23Page 366
Phone Number:1-301-816-8343
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