Chemical examination of the bark of erythrophlœum guineense / by Frederick B. Power and Arthur H. Salway.

  • Power, Frederick B. (Frederick Belding), 1853-1927
Date:
[1912?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Chemical examination of the bark of erythrophlœum guineense / by Frederick B. Power and Arthur H. Salway. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/22 (page 351)
    Summary. I he results of the present investigation of the bark of Erythro- pliloeum Guineense, G. Don, and the deductions therefrom, may briefly be summarized as follows: A quantity of the bark was completely extracted with hot alcohol, and the resulting concentrated extract distilled in a current of steam, but it yielded no essential oil. From the portion of the extract which was soluble in water the following substances were isolated: a very small amount of luteolin, C15H10Oa, and a small amount of an alkaloid which agreed in its characters and physiological action with erythrophleine, as described by Harnack (Arch. Pharm., 1896, 234, 561). Neither the alkaloid nor its salts could be obtained in a crystalline state, and they v ere therefore not considered suitable for analysis. The aqueous liquid contained, furthermore, besides some indefinite amorphous material, a considerable quantity of tannin, and a sugar which yielded d-phenylglucosazone, melting at 2100. The portion of the alcoholic extract which was insoluble in water consisted of a dark brown, brittle resin, and represented 13.5 per cent, of the weight of the bark. From this product the following substances were obtained: a phytosterol, Co7H4fiO (m. p. 130— T33 1 » cerotic, stearic, palmitic, oleic and linolic acids; and very small amounts of ipuranol, C23H3802(0H)2, and luteolin, C15H10O6. A portion of the latter compound was apparently contained in the resin in the form of a glucoside. Inasmuch as the results of a preliminary test had indicated a much larger proportion of alkaloid to be contained in the bark than could subsequently be isolated, it appears probable that some change had taken place during the processes of extraction. This could not be more precisely determined on account of the very indefinite character of the base, which also precluded its further chemical study. Since the bark under consideration is an exceedingly violent poison, and is largely used in West Africa for criminal purposes, it may finally be noted that the recognized and apparently most efficient antidote consists in the prompt administration of an emetic, or use of the stomach-pump, with subsequent stimulant remedies.