Chemical examination of the barks of Brucea antidysenterica, Lam., and Brucea sumatrana, Roxb / by Arthur H. Salway and Walter Thomas.

  • Salway, Arthur H. (Arthur Henry)
Date:
[1907?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Chemical examination of the barks of Brucea antidysenterica, Lam., and Brucea sumatrana, Roxb / by Arthur H. Salway and Walter Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    3/12
    [A Communication to the British Pharmaceutical Conference, Man¬ chester, July, 1007, and reprinted from the Year-Book of Pharmacy, 1007.] CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BARKS OF BRUCEA ANTIDYSENTERICA, Lam., AND BRUCEA SUMATRANA, Roxb. By Arthur H. Sal way, Ph.D., and Walter Thomas. 1.—Examination of the Bark of Brucea Antidysen- Terica. By Arthur II. Salway, Ph.D. A small quantity of this bark was obtained through the kind¬ ness of H.B.M. Minister, Lieut-Colonel Sir J. L. Harrington, K.C.V.O., C.B., at Adis Ababa, Abyssinia, and it was deemed of interest to compare its constituents with those of the fruit of the same species of Brucea, more especially with reference to the bitter principle contained in the latter, since both parts of the plant are stated to be used with success in Abyssinia in the treatment of diarrhoea and fever (compare Engler, “ Die naturlichen Pfianzenfamilien,” Theil III., Abtheil. 4, p. 220, Leipzig, 1896). The bark was in small fragments of a light brown colour, and possessed a slightly bitter taste. As a preliminary experiment a portion of the finely ground material was extracted successively in a Soxhlet apparatus with various solvents, when the following amounts of extract, dried at 100°C., were obtained :— Petroleum (b.p. 35-50°C.) Ether Chloroform Alcohol Water extracted 1-22 per cent. „ 0-96 n *70 99 99 8-48 7-22 99 99 Total . . 18-66 per cent. For the purpose of a complete examination of the constituents of the bark, a quantity (675 Gm.) of the finely ground material was extracted with hot alcohol. After the removal of the greater portion of the alcohol, the thick, dark-coloured extract was brought into a distilling flask, water added, and steam passed through the mixture in order to separate any volatile substances. The distillate, which contained a few oily drops