Origin. - The peeled, dried fruit of Citrullus Colocynthis Schroder. The colocynth plant is indigenous in Japan, and is cultivated and naturalized in Spain.

Description and Properties. - From 2 to 4 inches (5-10 Cm.) in diameter; globular; white or yellowish white, light, spongy; readily breaking into three wedge-shaped pieces, each containing, near the rounded surface, many flat, ovate, brown seeds; inodorous; taste intensely bitter.

The active constituent of colocynth is colocynthin, a glycosid, of which there is present about 2 per cent. Colocynth also contains resin, gum, and an amyloid principle.

Dose. - 5-10 grains (0.3-0.6 Gm.) [1 grain (0.065 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Official Preparations

Extractum Colocynthidis - Extracti Colocynthidis - Extract of Colocynth. - Dose, 1/2-2 grains (0.03-0.13 Gin.) [1/2 grain (0.03 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Extractum Colocynthidis Compositum - Extracti Colocynthidis Compositi - Compound Extract of Colocynth. - Extract of colocynth, 16 per cent., with aloes, scammony, cardamom, and soap.

Dose. - 5-25 grains (0.3-1.6 Gm.) [7 1/2 grains (0.5 Gm.), U. S. P.J.

Compound extract of colocynth enters into the following pills:

Pilulae Catharticae Compositae (8 per cent.).

Pilulae Catharticae Vegetabiles (6 per cent.).

Physiological Action and Therapeutics. - The action of colocynth is very similar to that of elaterin. In small doses, however, it acts as a stomachic, improving the appetite and augmenting the secretions of the whole gastro-intestinal tract. Colocynth is a decided cholagogue.

Pills containing colocynth are useful to produce abundant watery evacuations, as is necessary sometimes in the treatment of hepatic and renal diseases where there is constipation and ascites.

The drug should be employed only when there is some marked indication for its use, as colocynth, like the other drastics, is too irritant for habitual use.

Gastro-intestinal inflammation, pregnancy, etc., would contra-indicate its use.