little essential oil, which was separated by extraction with alkalies ; the rest of it was " kalmegh resin," a portion of which was extracted by first making it alkaline with caustic potash and shaking up with ether. It can be further extracted with ether after acidification with an acid.
Chloroform Extract.
This contained, besides chlorophyll, an amorphous white substance and very little of a bitter substance, the former of which separated out on concentrating the chloroform extract. Its melting-point is 221° C. It is tasteless and insoluble in water and alcohol. It is unacted upon by acids and alkalies.
Extraction of the Bitter Principles.
For this extraction the powdered leaves and stems were exhausted in a percolator with alcohol. * * * * * *
The residue remaining in the flask separated into two layers, one aqueous and the other solid ; the former, when allowed to cool, deposited some yellow colored crystals (bitter a) ; the latter was boiled with water and filtered hot ; from the filtrate a white amorphous precipitate was deposited having an extremely bitter taste (bitter b).
Examination of the Bitter Principle (a).
This was purified by dissolution in alcohol and fractional precipitation ; the process was repeated three times. It had a pale-yellow coloy. When a little of the substance was heated in a test-tube it diffused a very fragrant odor. It had melting point of 2.06° C. * * * * * The substance is very soluble in ethyl and methyl alcohol, though not to the above extent in amyl alcohol. It is very slightly soluble in chloroform and ether. Benzene and petroleum ether do not dissolve it even on boiling.
It is neither an alkaloid nor a giucoside, as it neither contains nitrogen nor produces a reducing sugar after hydrolysis. It can be acetylated, — i.e., it contains hydroxyl groups ; the acetyl derivative is white and insoluble in water. Its melting-point is 95° C. * * * * *
Examination of the Bitter Principle (b).
It was a white amorphous substance having an extremely bitter taste. It is odorless, and its melting-point is 185° C. It is practically insoluble in cold water. When a little of the substance was boiled for a long time with water, the latter acquired a slightly acid reaction. It is soluble in alcohol and chloroform. * * The formula C19H51O5 is given to it, * * *
The name " Kalmeghin "is proposed for it.
A white substance separated out when bitter (b) was treated with an acid.
This was washed with water and dried. It had an acid reaction and was soluble in alkalies, neutralizing it. As it was derived from Kalmeghin the name " Kalmeghic acid " was given to it. * * The formula is C14H28O2
.
927. A. echioides, Nees. h.f.b.l, iv. 505.
Syn. : — Justicia echioides, Linn. Roxb. 40.
Vern. :- Peetumba (Malaly) ; Ran Chimani (Deccani).
