Strophanthi emina

Source. The official drug consists of the dried ripe seeds of Strophanthus kombe. S. kombe is one of about thirty species of Strophanthus found in Africa. The seeds are exported.

History. Seeds derived from species of Stroplianlluis have long been used by the natives of East and West Africa for the prepa­ration of arrow poisons. One of these was noted by Livingstone in 1861. Specimens of both the extract and the seeds were sent to England and in 1885 Fraser isolated strophanthin and recommend­ed the use of the seeds in medicine.

Collection and Preparation. The plant is a liana which occurs both wild and cultivated. Each flower gives rise to two divergent follicles which, when ripe, are 20 to 36 cm long and 2 to 2.5 cm broad. Each follicle contains a large number of seeds.

The embryo is surrounded by a narrow endosperm. The seeds have a slight odour and a very bitter taste.

The cells of the endosperm and embryo are rich in oil and protein and give the sulphuric acid col­our reactions characteristic of k-strophanthin.²

Constituents. Strophanthus contains about 8 to 10 per cent of a mixture of glycosides known as strophanthin or k-strophanthin. The drug also contains about 30 per cent of fixed oil, the nitro­genous bases trigonelline and choline, resin and mucilage.

Strophanthin is soluble in water and in dilute alcohol, but sparingly "soluble in most organic solvents. The seeds may, there­fore, be defatted with a solvent such as light petroleum ³ without extracting the glycosides. The latter are then extracted by means of alcohol, freed from inert material, and finally obtained in crystals by concentration.

Uses. Strophanthus resembles digitalis in its action and in cer­tain cases is preferable.

Notes

1. Strophanthi semina — насіння строфанта

2. k-strophanthin — строфантин, витягнутий з насіння Strophanthus kombe

3. light petroleum — петролейний ефір

Вправа 6. Складіть запитання до підкресленних слів:

1. The embryo is surrounded by a narrow endosperm.

2.Each follicle contains a large number of seeds.

3. Strophanthin is soluble in water and in dilute alcohol.

4. The seeds are exported.

Вправа 7. Складіть речення з наступними виразами:

To give rise to

By means of

To be rich in

Варіант 4

Вправа 1. Перепишіть наступні речення, підкресліть дієслово-присудок та визначте його часову форму й стан. Перекладіть речення на українську мову.

Приклад:

The new apparatus was sent for yesterday. Вчера послали за новым аппаратом.

Was sent for – Past Simple Passive от глагола to send

1. Digitalis preparations are mainly used for their action on cardiac muscle.

2. The drug has marked odour and a bitter taste.

3. The drug was introduced into the London Pharmacopoeia in 1650.

4. The leaves of the plant will be about 10 to 30 cm wide.

5. Digitalis may be readily grown from seed.

Вправа 2. Перепишіть наступні речення. Підкресліть Participle I & II та визначте функцію кожного з них, тобто вкажіть, чи є воно означенням, обставиною або частиною дієслова-присудка. Перекладіть речення на українську мову.

1. Complex glycosides are readily decomposed by enzymes present in the leaves.

2. Digitalis consists of leaves dried at a temperature of about 60° as soon as possible after collection.

3. The drug has marked odour tasting bitter.

Вправа 3. Знайдіть у тексті 5 слів, утворених по конверсії та перекладіть їх у значенні іменника й дієслова.

Наприклад,

Work - робота → to work – робити

Вправа 4. Утворити прислівники та іменники за допомогою суфіксів та перекладіть їх:

• А.ly: rapid, common, ready, distinct, external

• В.tion: to collect, to cultivate, to depress, to decompose, to isolate

Вправа 5. Переписати та письмово перекласти текст: