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saponin has been added; in fact it in general prevents the crystallization 
of crystallizable substances. An aqueous solution of saponin does not 
reduce Fehling’s solution, but gives with it a dark precipitate, which 
probably represents a saponin-copper sulphate compound. The substance 
contains 14 per cent of water, dried at 115°, the last traces adhering very 
tenaciously, so that constant weight is only reached after several hours. 
With Mayer’s solution it gives no precipitate, with phospho-molybdic 
acid a blue, floculent one. 
Saponin when boiled with dilute acids is decomposed to give a 
sapogenin and galactose. The latter was identified by galactosaczone, 
with a melting point of 191°, 193°, 194° in three successive recrystalliza- 
tions. Saponin is also decomposed by Penicillium fungi which rapidly 
cause a separation of sapogenin, carbon dioxide being at the same time 
given off. 
The preparation of sapogenin is simple. An aqueous solution of saponin is 
boiled for about one to two hours with 5 per cent hydrochloric acid, and in cooling 
sapogenin separates in reddish flocks. These are filtered, dissolved in hot alcohol, 
to which a little animal charcoal has been added, again filtered, and set aside, 
whereupon the substance in question precipitates. A few recrystallizations from 
alcohol serve to purify it. 
As thus obtained, sapogenin consists of white, odorless, crystalline 
needles. It is insoluble in water, moderately so in cold alcohol, more 
so in hot. It is readily dissolved by chloroform, benzene, or carbon 
tetrachloride. It is insoluble in dilute acids or alkalies. Sapogenin 
naturally gives the same color tests with concentrated acid as saponin. 
It does not foam when placed in water, neither does it have any taste ; 
if such a foaming takes place it indicates that a small impurity of 
saponin still remains. Sapogenin is remarkably stable toward heat, it 
does not melt, nor is it in any appreciable manner ‘affected by a rise of 
temperature to 270°. It is apparently without physiological action, but 
this fact may be due only to its insolubility. 
Nitric acid, potassium permanganate, or hydroiodic acid have thus far 
not yielded substances of a crystalline nature. <A study of the constitu- 
tion of sapogenin is important, as it is believed that an effective attack on 
the saponin problem can be made by this means, as sapogenin can be 
obtained in crystals which are undoubtedly pure. 
Analyses of the sapogenin showed the formula to be C,;H,,0,. 
(I) 0.2993 gram sapogenin gave 0.2861 gram H,O 
and 0.8419 gram CO,. 
(IL) 0.2268 gram sapogenin gave 0.2199 gram H,O 
and 0.6372 gram CO,. 
Required for C,,H4.O, Found 
(1) (IT) 
Per cent. Per cent. . Per cent. 
C=76.9 76.8 76.6 
H= 10.8 10.8 10.78 
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