Pharm-Rx Cascara Sagrada Extract

Cascara Sagrada Extract contains, in each 100 g, not less than 10.0 g and not more than 12.0 g of total hydroxyanthracene derivatives, of which not less than 50% consists of cascarosides, both calculated as cascaroside A. Mix 900 g of Cascara Sagrada, in coarse powder, with 4000 mL of boiling water, and macerate the mixture for 3 h. Then transfer it to a percolator, allow it to drain, exhaust it by percolation, using boiling water as the menstruum, and collect 5000 mL of percolate. Evaporate the percolate to dryness, reduce the Extract to a fine powder, and, after assaying, add sufficient starch, dried at 100°C, or other inert, nontoxic diluents to make the product contain, in each 100 g, 11 g of hydroxyanthracene derivatives. Mix the powders, and pass the Extract through a number 60 sieve.