SENEGA 389 



the recently gathered drug, and that has been most carefully pre- 

 pared for the market. Extract 10 gm. of powdered Senega by means 

 of a Soxhlet apparatus, using 50 c.c. of ether to which 2 drops of 

 hydrochloric acid have previously been added. Continue the 

 extraction for four or five hours and then add sufficient ether to make 

 the liquid measure 50 c.c. Take 25 c.c. of this solution and evap- 

 orate it on a water-bath to dryness, the residue should not weigh 

 less than 0.300 gm. and upon dissolving the residue with 10 c.c. of 

 chloroform, transferring it to a test-tube and pouring 5 c.c. of sul- 

 phuric acid beneath the solution, a reddish-brown color should be 

 produced at the zone of contact and the sulphuric acid should show a 

 slight green fluorescence, after the mixture has stood for twenty-four 

 hours. If 10 c.c. of the original ethereal solution be poured into a 

 beaker in which previously has been placed 10 c.c. of water and the 

 mixture warmed on a water-bath until the ether has been evaporated, 

 the aqueous solution, upon filtering and adding a few drops of a 

 solution of ferric chloride, should become a bright pink-purple. 



Manitoba Senega is 8 to 15 cm. in length, 6 to 12 mm. in thickness, 

 externally dark brown and somewhat purplish near the crown. 



Constituents. The principal constituents are about 5 or 6 per cent 

 of two glucosides: senegin, which resembles saponin, and polygalic 

 acid, which is sternutatory. The root also contains 0.12 per cent of a 

 volatile oil which is chiefly methyl salicylate; resin; pectin; sugar; 

 and considerable proteins. 



Allied Plants. Saponin-like substances and methyl salicylate are 

 found to a greater or less extent in other species of Polygala, of which 

 at least forty have been used in medicine. Other genera of the Poly- 

 galacea seem to have constituents similar to Senega, as Comesperma 

 of Australia and Monnina of South America. 



The roots of Polygala angulata are collected in Brazil, and are 

 commonly known as White Ipecac or poaya blanca. The roots 

 resemble those of Senega, but are from 7 to 20 cm. in length and 

 from 1 to 9 mm. in diameter. They are nearly cylindrical, more or 

 less tortuous, light brown in color, longitudinally wrinkled and 

 marked by numerous transverse fissures. The crown is surmounted 

 with a number of stem bases which somewhat resemble the roots. 

 They probably contain saponin, and on this their emetic properties 

 depend. Kraemer, Proc. A. Ph. A., 1900, p. 214. 



Adulterants. The rhizomes and roots of Cypripedium hirsutum 

 and C. spectabile of the United States are said to be sometimes 

 used as adulterants of Senega (Figs. 60 and 61). 



