in the root than in the leaves, but it appeared to possess similar characters. It was amorphous, but formed a slightly crystalline hydrochloride. The damp crystals of the hydrocloridc brought into contact with the fumes from a drop of nitric acid produced a bluish green coloration. With sulphuric acid the alkaloid was first coloured reddish-brown, passing to carmine and then to purple. It was precipitated from solution by the usual reagents.
The alcoholic extract was emetic and purgative. A quantity from 2 grams of the leaves mixed with bread and given to a chicken produced frequent and watery stools. The aqueous extract from the leaves, after removal of all that was soluble by means of alcohol, had no effect upon a guinea-pig.
(Pharmacographia Indica Vol. II pp. 44L-442).
782. T. asthmatica, W. & A., h.f.b.l, iv. 44.
Syn. : — Asclepias asthmatica, Willd. Roxb. 252.
Vern : — Jangli-pikwan, Antamul* (H.) ; Antomul (B.) ; Pitkari ; Kharaki-rásna (Bomb.) ; Nach-churuppán, nay-palai, peyp-palai (Tam.); Verri-pala ; Kukka-pála (Tel.) ; Valli-pála (Mal.) ; Mendi (Uriya) ; Pita-kári (Mar.). Adumuttada (Kan).
Habitat :— N. & E. Bengal, Assam, Cachar, Chittagong ; Deccan Peninsula.
A perennial herb. Roots many, long, fleshy. Stems slender, very long, slightly branched, strongly twining pubescent or hairy ; or glabrous. Leaves 2-lin., rather thickly coriaceous, very variable in width, rarely pubescent or tomentose on both surfaces, ovate, rounded or oblong, apiculate, acute or acuminate, base usually cordate ; nerves few, spreading ; petiole ⅓-⅔in. Cymes always more or less pubescent, hispid at the base of the umbels. Peduncles shorter than the leaves, bearing 2-3 sessile few-or many-fid umbels, pedicels long, capillary. Sepals long, lanceolate, hispid. Corolla large, ½in. diam. Lobes short, acute. Flowers dull-yellow and purple within. Coronal processes gibbous or globose, with free cuspidate tips. Follicles very variable, poniard-shaped, divaricate or deflexed 3-4in. ; slender in the Dekkan specimens, with a thin pericarp ; slender, fusiform, glabrous, in the Ceylon specimens. Seeds ¼-⅓in. long, broadly ovate, coma ¾in.
- The Hindi name is derived from ant, ' the entrails,' and mul 'a root.' The expression ant girna signifies "to suffer from dysenteric symptoms," literally " to void the intestines." (Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. II, p. 437).
