11 CHONDRODENDRON TOMENTOSUM 



past, and which was supposed to be derived from Cissampelos 

 Pareira, L. It may be readily distinguished from the true drug 

 by its lighter brown colour externally, and by cutting tough 

 and fibrous like wood, and not with the close waxy character 

 of the true root. The two drugs may be also readily distin- 

 guished by the action of iodine, for whereas a decoction of the 

 spurious Pareira Brava is not coloured blue by iodine, that of the 

 true drug is turned inky-bluish black by tincture of iodine. 



Chemical Composition. In the year 1838, Wiggers discovered 

 in the Common False Pareira Brava, just described, a bitter 

 principle, which he termed Pelosine. It is also known as Cis- 

 sampeline. It was afterwards examined by Bodeker, and described 

 as an uncrystallisable alkaloid, insoluble in hot or cold water, 

 but soluble in alcohol and ether, and having a sweetish bitter 

 taste. Subsequently, in 1869, Fliickiger, in examining the stem 

 and roots of the Cissampelos Pareira, L._, obtained from Jamaica, 

 as also the true Pareira Brava from Chondrodendron tomentosum, 

 found the same bitter principle, and he pointed out that this 

 body possessed the same chemical properties as the alkaloid 

 beberia or bebeerine obtained from the bark of Nectandra Roditei 

 of Schomburgh, and called Bebeeru or Greenheart bark ; and also of 

 Buxine, obtained by Walz from the bark of Buxus sempervirens, L. 

 Fliickiger found this bitter principle only in the very small 

 proportion of \ per cent. The properties of Pareira Brava are 

 commonly said to depend on this alkaloid, but on this point we 

 have no direct evidence. True Pareira Brava also contains 

 starch, and hence its decoction is readily distinguished from 

 that of the Common False Pareira Brava, by tincture of iodine, 

 as already noticed, under the head of Substitutes for Pareira 

 Brava. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Pareira Brava is commonly 

 regarded as a mild tonic and diuretic, exercising apparently an 

 almost specific influence over the mucous membrane of the genito- 

 urinary organs. Sir B. Brodie states that in chronic inflammation of 

 the bladder it is a most valuable medicine, very materially lessening 

 the secretion of the ropy mucus of this disease, and diminishing 



