38 BERBERIDE^. 



strong tincture thus obtained is slowly poured into a large quantity of 

 water acidulated with hydrochloric acid (one measure of acid to 70 of 

 water), and the precipitated resin dried at a temperature not exceeding 

 32° C. The acid is used to facilitate the subsidence of the pulverulent 

 resin which according to Maisch settles down but very slowly if preci- 

 pitated by cold water simply, and if thrown down by hot water fuses 

 into a dark brown cake. The resin re-dissolved in alcohol and again 

 precipitated by acidulated water, after thorough washing with distilled 

 water and finally drying over sulphuric acid, amounts to about 2 

 per cent. 



Resin of podophyllum is a light, brownish-yellow powder with a 

 tinge of green, devoid of crystalline appeai'ance, becoming darker if 

 exposed to a heat above 32° C, and having an acrid, bitter taste; 

 it is very incorrectly called Podophyllin. The product is the same 

 whether the rhizome or the rootlets are exclusively employed.^ It is 

 soluble in caustic, less freely in carbonated alkalis, even in ammonia, 

 and is precipitated, apparentlj'' without alteration, on addition of an 

 acid. Ether separates it into two nearly equal portions, the one soluble 

 in the menstruum, the other not, but both energetically purgative. 

 From the statements of Credner^ it appears that if caustic lye is 

 shaken with the ethereal solution, about half the resin combines with 

 the potash, while the other half remains dissolved in the ether. If an 

 acid is added to the potassic solution a red-brown precipitate is produced 

 which is no longer soluble in ether nor possessed of purgative power. 

 According to Credner, the body of greatest purgative activity was 

 precipitated by ether fr©m an alcoholic solution of crude podophyllin. 



By exhausting the resin with boiling water, Power found that finally 

 not more than 20 per cent, of the resin remained undissolved. By 

 melting the crude resin with caustic soda, a little protocatechuic acid 

 was obtained. 



F. F. Mayer' of New York stated podophyllum to contain, beside the 

 resin already mentioned, a large proportion of Berherine, a colourless 

 alkaloid, an odoriferous principle which might be obtained by sublima- 

 tion in colourless scales, and finally Saponin. From all these bodies 

 the resin as prepared by Power,* was ascertained by him to be destitute ; 

 he especially proved the absence of berberine in Podophyllum. 



Uses — Podophyllum is only employed for the preparation of the resin 

 {Resina Podophylli) which is now much prescribed as a purgative. 



^ Saunders in ^ni. Journ. of Pharm. xvi. ^ Am. Journ. of PJiarmacy, xxxv. (1863) 



75. 97. 



2 Ueher Podophyllin (Dissertation), Gies- *L. cit., also Am. Journ. of Pharm. [1878) 



sen, 1869. 370. 



