EXAMINATION OF THE BARK AND SEED OIL OF 

 TRICHILIA EMETIC A. 



By James Sprunt Jamieson, FT.C. K.C.S. 



My object in the investigation of the bark was to study its 

 supposed poisonous properties. Bryant describes it as very pois- 

 onous, but the natives inform me that it is very generally used 

 in the form of an aqueous decoction as an emetic. The absence 

 of toxic symptoms on administering it to guinea-pigs upholds 

 the view that it is not poisonous. The yield of oil from the 

 seeds is fairly good, and the probable economic properties of this 

 oil for soap-making is feasible. 



The fruit weighs about 20 grams, measures one inch in 

 diameter, and contains four seeds. The testa, on ri])ening, red- 

 dens. The seeds yield about 32 per cent, of their weight of an 

 oil to petroleum ether. Other methods for extraction were at 

 the time unobtainable. At ordinary temperatures the fat is 

 solid, melting at about 30° C. to a brownish oil with very little 

 smell. 



About 10 grams of this fat was mixed with mealie meal 

 and administered to a guinea-pig with no toxic effects or 

 symptoms. 



The following are the constants of the fat : — 



Butyrometer reading at 30° C 59.5 



Specific gravity at 40° C 91 14 



Saponification equivalent 201 



Iodine value 67.3 



Acid value 008 



Reichert-Meissl valite 3.1 



Polenske value 3.3 



Melting point 30° C. 



The volatile fatty acids consist mainly of caproic acid. 

 Judging from the Polenske value, this acid would amount to 

 about the proix)rtion found in a normal butter- fat, z'ia., 2 to 3 

 per cent. A quantity weighing 50 grams was saponified with 

 alcoholic potash, the soap dissolved in water, and the unsaponi- 

 fiable matter extracted with petroleum ether. This yielded only 

 about 2 per cent., which was identified as phytosterol. The soap 

 was then acidified with sulphuric acid, and the free fatty acid 

 extracted with petroleum ether. After washing and getting rid 

 of the solvent, the fatty acids yielded the following constants 

 of fatty acids :— 



Melting pohit 35° C. to 7,-/° C. 



Saponification e(|uivaleni 181 



Iodine valtie 60.3 



Acid value 166 



]\Iean molecular weight ^5:54 



