23 



THE ACTIVE POISONOUS PRINCIPLE OF CICUTA 



Chemical researches have been made, both in this country and 

 abroad, on various members of the genus Cicuta, all species of which 

 are probably poisonous. When the rootstocks of Cicuta are cut or 

 broken open there is an exudation of a yellowish, aromatic oily mate- 

 rial which in a few moments begins to darken to a reddish-brown color. 

 (See Bulletin 81, Nevada Experiment Station.) This yellowish exu- 

 date is the poisonous principle of the root and it may be also seen in 

 the lower portions of the stems to a lesser extent. This poisonous prin- 

 ciple of Cicuta has been the subject of researches by a number of experi- 

 menters and a fair idea is to be had concerning its nature. 



In order to obtain the poison in a state pure enough for most experi- 

 mental work the fresh tubers may be reduced to a pulp and extracted 

 with ether, in which the cicutoxin (the name given to the active prin- 

 ciple) dissolves. Removal of the moisture and ether leaves the cicu- 

 toxin in the pure state. In addition to ether it will also dissolve in 

 alcohol, methanol, acetone, and chloroform. It is only slightly soluble 

 in benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and petroleum ether ; and is insoluble 

 in water, glycerine, and aniline. 



A method for the purification of the poison has been devised which 

 is based on its relative solubility in alcohol and petroleum ether, the 

 resulting product differing but little in purity from that prepared by 

 the method first mentioned. The chemical formula of the substance 

 was found by Dr. C. A. Jacobson of the Nevada Station to be C 19 H 26 3 . 

 In extracting the green tubers with ether it was found that cicutoxin 

 could be obtained in a quantity of from 0.3 to 0.4 per cent of the weight 

 of the tubers used. 



When prepared in the pure condition cicutoxin is a viscous yellowish 

 liquid which changes spontaneously into a semisolid body of a ruby-red 

 to reddish-brown color. It has the characteristic odor of the poison 

 parsnip and a very persistent bitter taste. When it is prepared by 

 dissolving in alcohol and precipitating by means of petroleum ether 

 it is obtained in a noncrystalline solid which melts to a sirupy mass 

 when heated to 20. A greater increase in temperature causes a loss 

 in toxicity and differences have apparently been observed in the sub- 

 stance obtained from plans in the warmer and cooler parts of the 

 year. 



Experiments with the rootstocks of the plant or the pure poison as 

 obtained and administered by mouth show that it is a narcotic cramp 

 poison, the symptoms of which in the lower animals are like those in 

 man except for being less marked. 



