SABADILLA 



III 



61. SABADILLA. CEVADILLA. The seeds of Vera'trum sabadil'la Schlechtendal, 

 and of Asagraea officinalis Lindley. Habitat: Mexico. They occur in com- 

 merce mixed with the fruit, which consists of three thin, papery, acuminate 

 follicles, nearly erect, united at the base, opening by a ventral suture, and 

 appearing like a single three-celled capsule. Each follicle contains one or 

 two narrow, oblong or lance-linear seeds, about 6 mm. (% in.) long, dark 

 brown or blackish, longitudinally shriveled, slightly winged, flat on one side, 

 convex on the other, somewhat curved; apex pointed; the thin testa incloses 

 a discolored, oily albumen, in the broader end of which is the small, linear 

 embryo; inodorous; taste bitter, oily, strongly and persistently acrid. 



CONSTITUENTS. Sabadilla is the principal source of veratrine, C37H B3 NOn 

 (Veratrina), a white powder, intensely acrid and sternutatory. The commer- 

 cial veratrine is impure; it is a mixture of the alkaloid veratrine with other alka- 

 loids extracted along with it, cevadine, C32H 49 NO9, cevadilline, Cs^ssNOs, 

 sebadine, CzgHsiNOg, and sabadinine. 



D 



FIG. 33. Veratrum viride Cross-section of rhizome. (25 diam.) A, Cork. B, Parenchyma of 

 ground tissue. C, Endodermis. D, Vascular bundle. (Photomicrograph.) 



Preparation of Veratrine. Remove resin and oil from alcoholic tincture by 

 adding water q.s. Decompose native salt (veratrate of veratrine) in filtrate by 

 means of KOH. Take up alkaloid with alcohol. Purify by converting into sul- 

 phate, decolorizing, and reprecipitating. 



ACTION AND USES. Sabadilla is rarely used except for the extraction of verat- 

 rine. It is a powerful irritant and is sometimes used to kill vermin in the hair. 



62. POLYGONATUM. SOLOMON'S SEAL. The rhizome of Polygona'tum biflo'- 

 rum Elliott, and of P. gigante'um Dietrich. Habitat: North America. A 

 pale brownish-yellow or whitish root, annulate and jointed, each joint being 

 surmounted by an obscurely seal-like stem-scar, which gives to the plant its 

 name; internally whitish, spongy; inodorous; taste sweetish, mucilaginous, 

 with an acrid, bitterish after-taste. Tonic, mucilaginous and mildly astrin- 

 gent; formerly much used in skin diseases and as a vulnerary, and has been 

 recommended in gout and rheumatism. Dose: i to 2 dr. (4 to 8 Gm.), in 

 fl'ext. 



