The constituents of leptandra / by Frederick B. Power and Harold Rogerson.

  • Power, Frederick B. (Frederick Belding), 1853-1927
Date:
[1910?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The constituents of leptandra / by Frederick B. Power and Harold Rogerson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/18 (page 1947)
    instance in which 3: 4-dimethoxycinnamic acid has been observed to occur in nature. The ethereal liquid from which the above-described acid had been separated was diluted somewhat, and then shaken with successive portions of aqueous ammonium carbonate. On acidifying the alkaline liquids, a solid substance was precipitated, which was likewise found to consist of 3: 4-dimethoxycinnamic acid. The total amount of this acid obtained from 2 kilograms of the original alcoholic extract was 12'0 grams, and was thus equivalent to about O'2 per cent, of the weight of the drug. The ethereal liquid was subsequently shaken with a solution of sodium carbonate, which, however, removed nothing. It was then treated with a 10 per cent, solution of sodium hydroxide, when a quantity of resinous material was removed, but from which nothing definite could be isolated. On finally evaporating the ether, only a small amount of a yellow, amorphous product was obtained. The original aqueous liquid (A), which had been extracted with ether as above described, was thoroughly shaken with successive portions of amyl alcohol. These liquids were then united, washed repeatedly with water, and concentrated under diminished pressure to a small volume, when, on cooling, a considerable quantity of a light brown, amorphous product separated. After removing the amyl alcohol as completely as possible, the entire amount of this product was dissolved in alcohol, and the solution poured into a large volume of water. The precipitate thus produced was collected, washed, and dried, when it could be reduced to a brown powder, but all attempts to obtain it in a crystalline state were unsuccessful. It amounted to 90 grams, or 1'6 per cent, of the weight of drug employed. The above-described product possessed an intensely bitter and nauseous taste. It was readily soluble in alcohol, but very sparingly so in water, even on boiling. Although the very dilute aqueous solution frothed strongly on agitation, the substance appeared to possess otherwise none of the characters of the saponins, and it was not sternutatory. In order to obtain some further information respecting the character of the above-described product, a quantity (10 grams) of it was heated with 1000 c.c. of 2 per cent, aqueous sulphuric acid for about four hours, when, on cooling, a hard, black, resinous mass separated. The liquid was then distilled in a current of steam, the distillate extracted with ether, and the ethereal liquid shaken with a solution of sodium carbonate. On acidifying the alkaline liquid, again extracting with ether, and removing the solvent, a