'42 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Cinchona contains a large number of alkaloids of which the following are 

 more important: Cinchonin, C ig H 01 ,N.,O, quinamin, C ig H 24 N O , quinin, 

 C 20 H 24 N 2 O 2> hydroquinin, C 20 H 26 N 2 6 2 , ' aricin, C 23 H 26 N 2 O 4 . Another alka- 

 loid belonging to this group is disinchonin, C, 3 H 44 N 4 O . favanin, 

 C, 3 H., 6 N 2 O 4 , occurs in Calisaya bark. The Cuprea bark (Remijia pedunculata) 

 from the U.S. of Colombia is also used in the manufacture of quinine and 

 contains dnchonanin. C, H, (1 N,O. The partridge berry (Mitchella re pens) 



i y ^*4 .w 



is a tonic. Gambier (Uncaria) of the East Indies is used for tanning. The 

 root of ipecac (Psychotria Ipecacuanha) of Brazil is a systemic emetic used 

 as a remedy in dysentery and contains emetin, C 15 H 22 N 2 O- and cephaelin, 

 C 14 H 2Q NO . Madder (Rubia tinctorum) of the Levant and Southern Europe 

 is used for dyeing and contains a red coloring matter, alizarin. The Morinda 

 citrifolia contains a yellow coloring principle mo rind in. The cape jasmine 

 (Gardenia jasminoides) also contains a yellow coloring resembling crocin. 



Coffee obtained from the Coffca arabica and other species, contains the 

 chemical principle caffein C h H JO N 4 O . This is the same as thein. This sub- 

 stance occurs in a large number of plants including cocoa (Theobroma Cacao), 

 cola (Cola acutninata), yopan (Ilex Cassine), mate (/. paraguensis) , Sferculia 

 f> la tani folia, Paullinia Cupana. 



Green seeds of Coffee arabica contain 1.22 per cent of caffein or thein 

 C g H 10 N 4 O 2 , the young leaves of Chinese tea 2.12 per cent. Ca-ffeidin 

 C 7 H 12 N 4 O is obtained from caffein. Caffein causes the heart to beat more 



Fig. 432. Cinchona (Cldnchona land folia). A 

 native of Peru and one of the species furnishing 

 the Peruvian bark of commerce. (From Stras- 

 burger, Noll, Schenck and Schimper). 



forcibly; it is a cerebral stimulant, producing wakefulness and restlessness; in 

 lower animals it produces excitement and mania. From a toxicological point it 

 is a spinal and muscle poison to the frog. In dogs and mammals it causes 

 restlessness, and in dogs it produces vomiting. The minimum fatal dose ac- 

 cording to Winslow is 1 gr. to 1 Ib. of live weight. 



