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SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



yellowish-red or yellowish-brown amorphous masses. Micro-sub- 

 limate crystals of methysticin are readily obtainable (Fig. 69). 



Constituents. About 5.3 per cent of resin consisting of two dis- 

 tinct resinous principles, a free resin acid and resene; the active 

 constituent, methysticin, 0.30 per cent, w-methysticin 0.27 per cent; 

 yangonin, 0.2 per cent; an alkaloid 0.02 per cent; two glucosides 

 amounting to 0.7 per cent; an amorphous acid insoluble in water, 



FIG. 69. Microcrystals formed in Kava-kava, the root of Piper methysticum: 

 A, crystals of methysticin obtained on treatment on sections of the root or 

 the powder with alcohol, the crystals being of a light yellow color, attaining a 

 length of 0.160 mm. and becoming of a violet red on the addition of sulphuric 

 acid. B, crystals of methysticinic acid obtained upon heating a small quan- 

 tity of the powder with one or two drops of a solution of potassium hydroxide 

 and adding dilute alcohol and allowing the slide to stand for twenty-four 

 hours. Crystals of methysticin can also be obtained upon sublimation, pro- 

 viding the powder has been acted on previously with dilute sulphuric acid, 

 emulsin or saliva. After Tunmann in Gehe & Co.'s Handelsbericht, 1912. 



0.75 per cent; ash not more than 8 per cent; starch 50 per cent; also 

 mucilage and supar. 



Literature. Zornig, Arzneidrogen. 



