382° PLUMBAGINEZ. a 
is seen in’the cell walls both of the parenchyme andthe woody __ 
tissue, but not in a crystalline form. (J'liickiger and Gerock.) 
The root of P. rosea has a similar structure, but is much 
smaller. 
Chemical composition.—The activity of the drug depends 
upon the presence of plumbagin. This acrid principle was 
first separated by Dulong from the root of P. europea by. 
repeatedly boiling the ethereal extract with water, whence it 
was deposited on cooling, and purified by crystallization from. 
alcohol or ether-alcohol. Plumbagin crystallizes in delicate. 
needles or prisms, often grouped in tufts; has a styptic sac- 
charine taste, with acrid biting after taste ; melts very easily, 
and partly volatilises unaltered when heated. Itis neutral, 
nearly insoluble in cold, more soluble in boiling water, very 
soluble in alcohol and ether. It dissolves with yellow colour 
in strong sulphuric and fuming nitric acid, and is precipi- 
tated by water in yellow flocks. Alkalies change the colour 
of the solution toa fine cherry-red; acids restore the yellow 
colour. Fliickiger (1887) examined the root of P. zeylanica 
supplied by one of us, and found that plumbagin could be 
obtained by submitting it to steam, when the latter is carried 
off by the water, from which it can be separated by shaking 
with ether. On evaporating the ether fine crystalline tufts of 
plumbagin of a bright orange colour are obtained; they have a 
peculiar odour and an intensely acrid, but not bitter taste. 
heating them but very moderately, they are volatilized; 
they readily dissolve in alkaline solutions and impart to them 
aed colour, but at the same time the plumbagin is altered, 
_ probably by oxidation. The yield is very small, from about 
pe Oe Ibs. of root only 81 grains of raw plumbagin could 
be obtained. Professor Flickiger found the proportion of 
plumbagin in P. europea to be about the same as in P 
_ zeylanica. An acid was also separated from. the root by dis- 
tillation. M. Greshoff, who has been i investigating the che- | 
mistry of the medicinal plants of Java (Meded. uit S’lands” 
Plant. VIL, p. 55, Batavia, 1890,) is of opinion that 
- roots aes sR —— Svaiaeaen pent 
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