PL A NT A G TNEM 129 



Witt a scar sTiowing tte attacliment to tlie ovary. They 

 are insipid, and have an oily smell when crushed. Soaked in 

 water they become coated with a transparent mucilage. 



Chemical composition, — The leaves of P. major have been 

 examined chemically by Dr. Rosenbaum, but the results 

 obtained do not indicate any active principle. He found that 

 petroleum benzine extracted 4 per cent, of wax and chlorophyll, 

 the extract fusing at 83° C. Ether dissolved 4*4 per cent, of 

 resin and chlorophyll. Alcohol extracted 10 per cent., of which 

 6 per cent, was soluble in water and contained a considerable 

 amount of sugar; the remaining four parts were soluble in 

 ammonia. Water took up 13 per cent.,of which 7-2 per cent, was 

 insoluble in QQ per cent, alcohol. Soda solution dissolved 6 per 

 cent., and diluted acid 10 per cent., the latter containing a 

 notable quantity of calcium oxalate. It may be noted hero that 

 Th. Koller, in 1868, found citric acid and oxalic acid in the 

 three species, P. majoi', P. lanceolaia, and P. fneclia, besides the 

 ordinary plant constituents, chlorophyll, resin, wax, albumen,and 

 pectin. These constituents do not account for the reputation as 

 a styptic and vulnerary in which the plant was held by ancient 

 writers. The presence of sugar indicates the possibility of a 

 glucosidc being contained in the plant. The value of the seeds 

 m diarrhoea and dysentery is no doubt due in some measure to 



the quantity of mucilage they afford. (Arna: Joimi. Pharm., 

 Sept., 1886.) 



Plantago mucilage is neutral in reaction, is not altered 

 by iodine or precipitated by borax, alcohol, or perchloride 

 of iron. It is only sparingly soluble in water. R. W. Bauer 

 separated the carbohydrate xijlose (previously obtained f 

 wood-gum) from the epidermis of P. Psyllium, by boiling 

 the aqueous extract with dilute sulphuric acid. It was 

 identified by its melting point, rotatory power, and by its 

 compound with phcnylhydrazine. Wood-gum can be obtained 

 from beech wood, jute, or deal, by extracting with 5 per cent, 

 soda and precipitating with alcohol and HCl. When this is 

 hydrolysed, it yields Koch's wood-sugar or xylose. Xylose 

 closely resembles arabinose in all its properties," and, like the 



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om 



