DICTIONARY OF THK ACTIVE PRINCIPLES OF PLANTS. 



Fruhde's reiigent (molybdic and sulphuric acids), violet, becoming 

 brimnish-ijreen at edges. 

 ((■) HYDROBEBERINE A., C.„H.,NOj; formed from Berberine by reduction; 

 crystallized in needles or prisms. 



Soluble in alcohol, chloroform, carbon bisulphide. Insoluble in water. 

 Concentrated sulphuric acid gives a yellowish-green. 

 Nitric acid oxidizes to Berberine. See Corydalis cava (Chelidonium 

 group). 



(f/) BERBAMINE A., isomeric with Berberine (or lower homologue by 

 UH,, Riidel). 



Soluble in alcohol and ether ; M.P. 15()°. 

 Platinum chloride compound, white crystalline, 

 (e) BETA-OXYACANTHINE A., by heating Oxyacanthine in alkali. 

 Insoluble in ether. Hydrochloric acid gives a precipitate soluble in 

 excess. Soluble in alkalies. 



(/) HYDRASTINE A., C2,H„,N0e (Eyckmann). In constitution this alka- 

 loid closely resembles Narcotine, differing only by a methoxy group, 

 CH3O. It crystallizes colourless, if pure; islsevo-rotatory, [a]D= — 67'8 

 (Freuud) ; M.P. 135° ; has alkaline reaction, and is bitter when in 

 solution (the solid alkaloid is tasteless). 



Soluble in alcohol, ether (about 80 parts), chloroform (very easily), and 

 in benzene ; scarcely in water, and not in petroleum ether. " 

 Precipitants : 



Alkaline hydrates, white. 

 Ammonia, slightly soluble in excess. 

 Tannic and picric acids. 

 Platinum chloride, yellowish-red. 

 Gold chloride, similar pp. 

 Ferrocyanide of potassium, white. 

 Potassic iodide, 

 lodo-potassic iodide, brown. 

 Mayer's reagent (mercuric-potassic iodide. 

 Mercuric chloride. 

 [Not by chlorine water.] 

 Colour Reactions, etc. : 



Potassium permanganate, if not in excess, produces a fluorescent 



solution. 

 Concentrated sulphuric acid, a faint yellow with pure acid, orange to 

 red when containiut; nitric acid. 



Nitric acid alone, orange, the solution on dilution being fluorescent. 



Friihde's solution (molybdic in sulphuric acid), green, changing to 

 brown. 

 (f/) XANTHOPUCCINE A., orange-yellow crystals. 

 Soluble in hot alcohol. Insoluble in ether or chloroform. 

 Precipitants : 



Auimonia. 



lodo-potassic iodide, brown. 

 Concentrated sulphuric acid, reddish-brown. 

 Nitric acid, brown. 

 (/() CANADINE A., C^iHoiNOj (Methyl berberine plus two atoms of 

 hydrogen). 



Soluble in ethyl acetate. 

 Precipitated by ammonia. 



(i) COPTINE A., accompanies Berberine in Coptis trifoliata ; colourless. 

 Dissolves in concentrated sulphuric acid without colour, but becoming 

 purple on warming. 



§ 4J. BOLDOA (Peumus Boldoa = Boldo) ; MnnimiacecB; Chili. 

 BOLDINE A., alkaline, bitter powder. 



Scarcely soluble in water, difficultly in benzene ; dissolved by alcohol, 

 ether and chloroform. 



Precipitants : 



Alkaline hydrates, soluble in excess. 

 Ammonia, 

 lodo-potassic iodine. 

 Mercuric-potassic iodide. 

 Iodine tincture, brown. 

 Colour reactions : 



Concentrated sulphuric acid, red. 

 Nitric acid, red. 

 §43. BRAYERA anthelmintica (Hagenia Abyssinica — ' Cusso ' or 

 ' Kousso ') ; liosacece ; Abyssinia. Used as authelmintic. The flowers. 



KOSIN B., CaiHjgOio ; yellow rhombic crystals : M.P. U2= (194° ?) ; acid 

 reaction ; bitter and sharp taste. 



Scarcely soluble in water, but dissolved by alcohol, ether, chloroform, 

 benzene, carbon bisulphide, glacial acetic acid, alkaline hydrates and 

 carbonates. 



Precipitated by neutral lead acetate. 



