454 SOLANACE^. * 



Capsicin. It is obtained by treating the alcoholic extract of ether, 

 and is a thick yellowish red liquid, but slightly soluble in water. 

 When gently heated, it becomes very fluid, and at a higher tempera- 

 ture is dissipated in fumes which are extremely irritating to respiration. 

 It is evidently a mixed substance, consisting of resinous and fatty 

 matters. 



Felletar in 1869 exhausted capsicum fruits with dilute sulphuric 

 acid, and distilled the decoction with potash. The distillate, which 

 was strongly alkaline and smelt like conine, was saturated with 

 sulphuric acid, evaporated to dryness, and exhausted with absolute 

 alcohol. The solution, after evaporation of the alcohol, was treated 

 with potash, and yielded by distillation a volatile alkaloid having the 

 odour of conine. 



From experiments made by one of us (F.) we can fully confirm the 

 observations of Felletar. We have obtained the volatile base in 

 qiiestion, and find it to have the smell of conine. It occurs both in the 

 pericarp and in the seeds, but in so small proportion that we were 

 unsuccessful in isolating it in sufficient quantity to allow of accurate 

 examination. 



Dragendorflf states (1871) that petroleum ether is the best solvent 

 for the alkaloid of capsicum ; he obtained crystals of its hydrochl orate, 

 the aqueous solution of which was precipitated by most of the usual 

 tests, but not by tannic acid. 



The colouring matter of capsicum fruits is sparingly soluble in 

 alcohol,but readily in chloroform. After evaporation, an intenselyred soft 

 mass is obtained, which is not much altered by potash ; it turns first blue, 

 then black with concentrated sulphuric acid, like many other yellow 

 colouring substances. By alcohol chiefly ixthnitic acid is extracted 

 from the fruit, as shown by Thresh in 1877. 



The fruits of Capsicurn fastigiatitvi have a somewhat strong odour; 

 on distilling consecutively two quantities, each of 50 lb., we obtained a 

 scanty amount of flocculent fatty matter, which possesses an odour 

 suggestive of parsley. Both this matter, as well as the distilled water, 

 were neutral to litmus paper, and the water tasteless. We separated the 

 latter, and exposed the remaining greasy mass to a temperature of 

 about '50° C, when it for the most part melted. The clear liquid on 

 cooling solidified, and now consisted of tufted crystals, which we further 

 purified by recrystallization from alcohol. Thus about 2 centigranmies 

 were obtained of a neutral white stearoptene, having a decidedly 

 aromatic, not very persistent taste, by no means acrid, but rather like 

 that of the essential oil of parsley. The crystals melted at 38° C. On 

 keeping them for some days at the temperature of the water-bath, 

 covered with a watch-glass, some drops of essential oil were volatilized, 

 which had the same taste and did not solidify ; the crystals were con- 

 sequently accompanied by a liquid oil. When kept for some days 

 more in that condition, the crystals themselves began to be volatilized, 

 and the part remaining behind acquired a brownish hue. This no 

 doubt points out another impurity, as we ascertained by the following 

 experiment. With boiling solution of potash, the stearoptene produces 

 a kind of soap, which on cooling yields a transparent jelly. If this is 

 dissolved and diluted, it becomes turbid by addition of an acid. This 

 probably depends upon the presence of a little fatty matter, a suggestion 



