314 



PUNICACE^: 



Assay of the drug consists in the extraction and separation of the 

 alkaloid from the drug by acidulated water, washing out the aqueous 

 solution of the salt (after neutralization) with chloroform, again 



N 

 washing the latter solution with hydrochloric acid and titrating 



final solution in the usual way. No authoritative standard has been 

 fixed. 



STRUCTURE. 'The tissue consists chiefly of large-celled parenchyma, 

 traversed by one-rowed medullary rays of quadratic cells, each ray 

 accompanied by a single row of crystal cells. The inner bark steeped 

 in water and then rubbed on paper produces a yellow stain, which 

 is rendered blue by ferrous sulphate, and rose-red by nitric acid, 

 soon vanishing. These properties distinguish it from the bark of 

 the box-root and the barberry, with which it is sometimes adulterated. 

 Powder. Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 



FIG. 182. Pomegranate Cross-section of fruit. 



CONSTITUENTS. Mannite, punico-tannic acid, 22 per cent, (resolved by 

 hydrolysis into sugar and ellagic acid), and the active constituent, 

 pelletierine, CsHisNO, with its three allied alkaloids, methyl-pelle- 

 tierine, C 9 Hi 7 NO, pseudo-pelletierine, C 9 Hi 5 NO, and iso-pelle- 

 tierine. Pelletierine is a liquid alkaloid, readily soluble in water, 

 alcohol, and ether. Several salts of it are made, but the tannate 

 is the official one. This is yellowish, hygroscopic, and pulverescent, 

 with a pungent astringent taste, soluble in 700 parts of water and 

 80 parts of alcohol. Ash, not exceeding 16 per cent. 



Preparation of Pelletierine. Displace powder with water mixed with lime 

 exhaust percolate with chloroform, etc. It is claimed by Tanret to be the anthel- 

 mintic constituent. Is probably a mixture of several alkaloids. 



ACTION AND USES. Astringent, taeniafuge. Dose: % to i% dr. (2 to 6 

 Gm.). The alkaloid pelletierine is a taeniafuge in extensive use; it 

 is given in the form of tannate in doses of about 5 gr. (0.3 Gm.). 



