20 



DICTIONARY OF THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLES OF PLANTS. 



A wliite preiipitate is obtained on addition of neutral lead acetate to 

 the alcoliolic solution. Dry hydrochloric acid gas gives a red, changing to 



violet, then gieen. 



BAPHIC ACID, from Baphiin (see p. 19j, is a yellowish-white powder, 

 soluble in alcohol and ether, but not in water. 



§ S'.l. BAROSMA (Diosma) crenulata, B. serratifolia, and B. betulina 

 {L'utdfCd). The leaves (Buchu loaves). Landerer, Repert. Plidi-m., 34, 

 63, and others. 



BAROSMIN G. (Uiosmin ; possibly identical with Hesperidin) ; crystallizes 

 in microscopic needles ; M.P. '243° C. ; agreeable odour on burning. Dilute 

 acids convert to glucose, and a substance melting at 126° to 130° C. Baros- 

 min is soluble in alcohol (scarcely so if cold) and in ether, volatile oils, 

 dilute acids and alkalies, the latter with yellow colour. 



It does not reduce Fehling's solution. 



Concentrated sulphuric acid dissolves to a yellow solution. 



§ 4(1. BEBEERU bark (Nectandra rodisei — Lauracece), Greenheart- 

 tree, British Guiana ; Buxus sempervirens (Box — Euphorhiacea) , the bark 

 and leaves; Botryopt-is platyphylla (' Pareira root') and Cissampelos 

 Pareira (Menisperinaceir). [Geshoff has found an alkaloid resembling 

 Bebeerine in Hernandia sonora and H. ovigera — Lnuracew']. Investigators : 

 Fauri^, Kodie. Maclaglan, etc. 



BEBEERINE A. (Beberine, Buxine, Pelosine), C,sH„,NO:, (Fliickiger) ; 

 crystalline or amorphous, salts amorphous. Dextro-rotatory. M.P. 150" 

 (198° Dupuy). Becomes electric on rubbing. Alkaline reaction ; bitter. 

 Used as tonic — dose, 1 to 10 grains of the Sulphate — is also antiseptic. 

 Very difiRcultly soluble in water (6,000 parts cold, l,iJOO boiling) ; dissolves 

 in 5 parts absolute alcohol, 13 parts ether, also in amyl alcohol, chloroform, 

 acetone, benzene, and carbon bisulphide. 

 Precipitants : 



Alkaline hydrates (sol. in excess). 



Alkaline carbonates. 



Ammonia (not by neutral Lead acetate). 



Tannic acid, yellowish- white (sol. in warm hydrochloric acid). 



Pici'ic acid, yellow, amorphous at 1 in 3,000. 



Platinum chloride, yellow, insoluble in HCl. 



Gold chloride, yellowi.'-h-white. 



Ferro- and ferri-cyanides of potassium, yellow. 



Potassium sulphocyanide, white. 



Potassium bichromate, an immediate light yellow precipitate, floc- 



culent at 1 in 3,000. 

 Phospho-molybdic in acid solution, pp. dissolves blue in ammonia. 

 lodo-potas.sic iodide, a Kermes-coloured pp. 

 Bismutho-potassic iodide, orange-red. 

 Cadmium-potassic iodide. 



Mercuric-potassic iodide (Mayer's reagent), white. 

 Mercuric chloride, white, dissolved by HCl or by ammoninm 



chloride. 

 Iridium-sodium chloride, red. 

 White pp. by sodium phosphate, nitre, nitric acid and platino-potassic 

 cyanide. 



Colour tests : Concentrated Sulphuric acid, dirty olive-green, becoming 

 lighter in 15 to 20 hours; Fnibde's reagent (concentrated sulphuric with 

 molybdic acid), brownish-green, lighter after half an hour, yellowish in 

 24 hours ; nitric acid, brown. 



PARA-BEBEERINE A., C^jHs N._,0 ; the sulphate soluble in hot water but 

 insoluble in alcohol. 



PARA-BUXINE A. (Para-bebeerine ?) ; red, amorphous. 

 Soluble in water and alcohol ; insoluble in ether. Possesses acid 

 properties. 



Nitric acid produces a permanent green. 



SIPIRINE A. ; resinous, brownish-red ; soluble in alcohol (Maclaglan). 

 The name is derived from ' Sipiri,' the Dutch name for the G-eenheart- 

 tree. Fliickiger doubts the individuality of this alkaloid. 



NECTANDRINE A. (regarded by v. Planta as identical with Bebeerine), 

 CjoH.^jXOj (Maclaglan) ; amorphous powder ; M.P. below 100- fmelts 

 under hot water) ; bitter. 



Insoluble in water ; dissolves in 250 parts of ether. Soluble in 

 chloroform. 



Concentrated sulphuric acid, with a little manganese dioxide, gives a 

 magnificent green, becoming violet like the strychnine reaction. 



§ 41. BERBERIS group. The alkaloid Berberine has been found in 



members of the Berberidea", Caasiea, jre?iisperme(r^ Pajiu reriuefr, lianun- 

 ctilacea:, Rutacea, etc. ; notablj' in the families Coptis, Coccinium, 

 Cocculus, Coelocline, Geoffroya, and in particular the following plants : 

 Berberis vulgaris (the alkaloids (u), (J), (</) below); Coptis Teeta ('Mahmira' 

 —an Indian Ranunculacea — 8j per cent. Berberine, also Coptine) ; 



