202 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



Constituents. Saporubrin, a saponin-like glucoside, to the 

 extent of 4 per cent. The drug also contains Saporubic acid, which 

 resembles the Quillajic acid found in Quillaja. The leaves of this 

 plant are said to contain another glucoside, termed by Barger, 

 Saponarin. 



Allied Drugs. The over-ground stems are sometimes collected 

 and cut into small pieces about 5 mm. in length. These resemble 

 Dulcamara and have been sold for it. It is distinguished by the 

 stems of Saponaria being nearly cylindrical, marked by distinctly 

 swollen nodes and usually having a solid pith. 



ANONACE.E, OR CUSTARD APPLE FAMILY 



A family of trees or shrubs common in the tropics and repre- 

 sented in the eastern United States by the North American Papaw 

 (Asimina triloba). The fruits of the latter are ellipsoidal berries, 

 from 5 to 15 cm. in length, having a yellowish-brown pulp and con- 

 tain a number of dark-brown seeds. The fruit ripens after frost, 

 possesses a sweetish taste resembling the banana, and is highly 

 esteemed by the negroes. 



The leaves of this family are mostly aromatic, due to the presence 

 of resin-secretion cells, which are similar to those found in the Mag- 

 noliacese. Mucilage cells are also present in some of the genera. 

 It is 'not infrequent to find in the pith large lacunae separated by 

 groups of stone cells. Calcium oxalate usually occurs in the form of 

 rosette aggregates, although isolated crystals are also present. The 

 non-glandular hairs are of different types. Glandular hairs are 

 absent. 



ANONA MURICATA. Soursop. The leaves of Anona muricata 

 (Fam. Anonacese), a shrub growing in the Savannas of the Antilles 

 and Brazil and cultivated to some extent, are reputed to possess 

 medicinal properties. A chemical examination of the leaves which 

 were obtained from Dominica, W. I., showed them to contain a small 

 amount of a volatile oil; an alkaloidal substance which could not be 

 crystallized; myricyl alcohol; sitosterol; a substance designated 

 anonol, which is probably a phytosterol-glucoside; a mixture of 

 fatty acids; and considerable potassium chloride, together with 



stele of an apical internode of a stolon showing the phelloderm (Ph) and the 

 inter-fasicular tissue which has developed into leptome (L) ; cambium (Camb) 

 and hadrome (F); pith (P). E, longitudinal section of the pith portion of 

 a thick root showing 2 of the spiral vessels. After Holm. 



