ABSTRACT
The efficacy of ipecac in amebic infections depends upon its content of alkaloids, the principal ones being
emetine
and
cephaëline
. Both are
amebicidal
, but emetine is much more active. Cephaëline is more toxic than emetine, except for the heart, and causes more nausea and vomiting. Emetine constitutes more than one half of the total alkaloidal content of ipecac.
