The Use of Glaucarubin (a Crystalline Glycoside Isolated from Simarouba Glauca) in the Treatment of Human Colonic Amebiasis

Abstract

Summary Glaucarubin, a crystalline glycoside isolated from Simarouba glauca and found to have amebicidal properties in vitro and in experimental animal amebiasis, was evaluated in the treatment of the human infection. Cure rates in the order of 70 per cent were observed following treatment by mouth for 10 days with daily doses of 5 mg./kg. (maximum daily dose 300 mg.). With the exception of vomiting in 2 patients and a transitory decrease in leucocyte count in another, the drug was well tolerated in 113 patients.