326 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



The lenticular, brown, glossy seeds of Entada scandens con- 

 tain saponin and have been offered as a substitute for physostigma. 

 Canavalia obtusifolia, of the East Indies, is also said to have been 

 used as an adulterant of physostigma. 



The Jack-bean (Canavalia ensiformis) contains about 23 per cent 

 of protein. The latter consists of two globulins. (Jour. Franklin 

 Ins., 1917, p. 119.), 



Fcenum Graecum. SEMEN FCENU GILECI, SEMEN FCENI GRJECI, 

 FENUGREEK. The dried ripe seeds of Trigonella Fcenum graecum 

 (Fam. Leguminosse, sub-fam. Papilionacese), an annual herb indigen- 

 ous to the Mediterranean region and extensively cultivated in 

 southern Europe, northern Africa and India. 



Description. Oblong flattened or rhomboidal; from 3 to 5 cm. 

 in length and 2 to 3 mm. in breadth ; externally light to dark yellow- 

 ish-brown, nearly smooth, and having on one side a diagonal depres- 

 sion dividing the seed into two unequal portions, the smaller con- 

 taining the embryo and the larger the cotyledons; hard, heavy, 

 pebble-like; inner surface of embryo light yellowish-brown, waxy, 

 of endosperm white and mealy; odor distinct, resembling that of 

 elm bark; taste mucilaginous and slightly bitter. On placing the 

 seeds in water they become swollen, permitting of the easy removal 

 of the seed-coat. If allowed to remain for a few days in a moistened 

 condition they germinate rapidly. 



Inner Structure. See Fig. 148. 



Powder. Yellowish-brown; an outer epidermal layer of mucilage 

 cells beneath which occur 1 to 3 layers of radially elongated stone 

 cells having triangular lumina and thick, porous walls. As seen in 

 transverse section, the stone cells are polygonal in outline and have 

 simple, narrow, and distinct pores; beneath the latter is a layer of 

 broad, thick-walled cells with large, radiate, simple pores; the endo- 

 sperm consists chiefly of mucilage cells with wavy mucilaginous 

 inner walls and a single layer of small aleurone cells; the embryo 

 consists of yellowish cells containing an oily cytoplasm, small aleruone 

 grains and occasionally small starch grains. Aleurone grains from 0.005 

 to 0.015 mm. in diameter; starch grains about 0.003 mm. in diameter. 



Constituents. Fenugreek contains 22 per cent of proteins; 28 

 per cent of mucilage (in the cells of the endosperm) ; 0.13 per cent of 

 trigonelline (isomeric with pyridine-betaine) ; 0.05 per cent of cho- 

 line; and an odorous hydrocarbon. 



Adulterants. The powder is sometimes adulterated with pea 

 flour, which is readily detected by the presence of numerous 

 characteristic starch grains. Wheat middlings, which have been 



