The physiological action of Cheiranthin resembles that of the digitalis compounds.
Cheirinine, C l3 H 35 17 N 3 , obtained from the alcoholic extract of the seeds of the wall-flower, crystallises in small, colourless needles, melts at 73—74°, and is soluble in warm water, alcohol, ether, chloroform, or ethylacetate. The aqueous solution is neutral and gives precipitates with the ordinary alkaloidal reagents. The physiological action of cheirinine resembles that of quinine.
The seeds also contain choline. J. Ch. S. LXXVIII. pt. I. (1900) p. 186.
72. Nasturtium officinale, R, Br. h.f.b.i., i. 133.
Eng.:—The Water-cress,
Ver.:—Piriya halim (Kumaon).
Habitat: ohilkhand, Punjab (N. India). Found near all hill-stations, but probably introduced. Simla in ditches, Ceylon, found naturalized at Kandy (Trimen).
An aquatic. Stem creeping and floating, much branched. Leaves pinnate, the upper with 3-7 pinules and a terminal one, the lower cut into. 3 repand segments. Flowers white, in short racemes. Petals longer than the sepals. Pods } — 1 in., stalked, spreading or bent upward; seeds small, 2-seriate.
Use:—Used as a salad, on account of its appetizing and anti-scorbutic properties.
The essential oil consists chiefly of phenylethylenethiocarbimide, C 6 H Se CH 2 .CH 2 .N: CS, which was identified by converting it into the thiocarbamide. The glucoside from which these are derived, is named ' gluconasturtiin,' and is regarded as having the constitution—
CH 2 Ph.CH 2 .N.C(S.C 6 H 11 5 ).O.S0 3 K+^H 2 0, but could only be obtained as a syrup ; by decomposition with silver nitrate, it gives 'silver nasturtiate,'
CH 2 Ph.CH 2 .N:C(SA g ).O.S0 3 A ff -}-2H 2 0, which also forms a crystalline compound with 2NH 3 , but loses this at ordinary temperatures.
When acted on by sodium thiosuljDhate, silver nasturtiate gives a clear solution which probably contains the sodium salt, but soon decomposes into sodium sulphate and the thiocarbamide, which can then be extracted with ether. J. Ch. S. 1899 A I. 930.
From this plant phenyletl^lthiocarbirnide, CH 2 Ph.CH.NCS is obtained.
Silver nasturtiate is soluble in ammonia in the presence of ammonium nitrate, but is precipitated by nitric acid, and is decomposed by sodium
