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INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.


the latter. No amyadalin could be detected in the seeds, bat hydrocyanic, benzaldehyde and grape sugar, possibly the decomposition products of it, were found. A small quantity of cane sugar was also separated in the crystallised form.

In 1893 an examination was made by Mr. R. Glenk (Amer. Journ. Pharm. LXV. 528) of a specimen of the oil from seeds sent from Mirzapur. The oil was described as a yellowish- white semi-solid substance having a faint odour of bitter almonds and a specific gravity of 0.942. The oil had an acid re-action, and completely liquified at 28° C. It was readily Saponified by sodium hydrate even at a low temparature, forming a white hard soap. Concentrated sulphuric acid acquired a reddish-brown colour on addition of the oil. It is soluble in chloroform, ether, bisulphate of carbon, benzene, and the fixed and volatile oils.

Dr. J. J. A. Wijs examined the seeds in 1900 (Zeits. physic. Chem. 31.255— 257). The seeds of Schleichera trijuga were obtained from the Celebes, and 60 per cent, consisted of kernels. The kernels had the following composition : —

Water ... ... ... ... ... 3.5
Fat ... ................ 70.5
Proteids ... ... ... ... 12.0
Fibre and ash... ... ... 14.0
Total .............. 100.0

The fat extracted by means of petroleum ether had the colour and consistence of butter. The following constants were determined: melting point (by the Le Sueur and Crossley method), 22° C. ; melting point of the fatty acids, 52 — 54° C; Hehner value, 91.55; saponification value (Henriques 1 cold process), 215.3 ; iodine value (Wijs' iodine chloride and acetic acid method), 55*0, that of the fatty acids being 58.9 ; Reichert-Meissl value, 9; acid number 19.2 ; acid number of the fatty acids, 191.2—192.0 ; unsaponiflable matter, 3.12 per cent. The volatile acids (acetic acid with a little butyric acid) were examined by the Duclaux method ; and the ratio of the solid (45per cent.) to the liquid fatty acids (55 per cent, with iodine value 193.2) was determined by the Rose method. (Agricultural Ledger 1905— No. 1).


314. Sapindus trifoliatus, Linn. H. F. B. I., I. 682.

Syn. : — S. laurifolia, Vahl. Roxb. 331. S. Emarginata, Vahl. Roxb. 331.

San : — Arishta and Phenila.

Vern. :— The fruit — Ritha (Hind.); Bara-ritha, ritha (Beng.); ud-rack, rithâ, ringin, rithâ, rithâ (Mar.); Arithan, aritha (Guz.) ;