CRUDE DRUGS. 505 



Constituents. — Volatile oil 0.5 to 3 per cent., of which 9.5 

 ppr cent, is bornyl valerate. It also contains bornyl formate, 

 acetate and butyrate ; borneol ; pinene ; camphene, and a sesqui- 

 terpene. The odor of valerian is due to the isovalerianic acid 

 which is formed from the bornyl valerate by the action of an oxy- 

 dase during the drying of the drug. The drug also contains free 

 formic and acetic acids and malates, which develop in the same 

 way by the decomposition of compound esters. In addition 

 valerian contains two alkaloids, Valerianine and chatinine; resin; 

 tannin ; and starch. 



Allied Plants. — Kesso root oil is obtained from Japanese 

 Valerian {Valeriana angustifolia). The constituents are similar 

 to those of the volatile oil in Valerian, but it contains in addition 

 kessyl acetate and kessyl alcohol. Mexican Valerian, derived from 

 V. mexicana, yields an oil containing about 89 per cent, of iso- 

 valerianic acid. 



The small rhizomes of Valeriana celtica, a plant growing in the 

 Styrian Alps, yields a volatile oil with an odor resembling that of 

 Anthemis and patchouly. 



Adulterants and Substitutes. — The most dangerous ad- 

 mixture that has been reported is Veratrum, which is readily 

 distinguished (p. 492). Cypripedium macranthum (Fam. Orch- 

 idacese), of Germany, has been used as a substitute for valerian. 



GERANIUM.— WILD OR SPOTTED CRANESBILL.— 

 The dried rhizome of Geranium maculatnm (Fam. Geraniacese), 

 a perennial herb (Fig. 155), indigenous to Canada and the East- 

 ern and Central United States (p. 301). The rhizome is collected 

 in the late summer or early autumn. 



Description. — Horizontal, cylindrical, tuberculate, curved or 

 bent pieces, 2.5 to 5 cm. Jong, 3 to 10 mm. in diameter; exter- 

 nally dark brown, wrinkled, upper and side portions with numer- 

 ous buds or circular stem-scars, under surface with numerous root- 

 scars ; fracture short ; internally light brown, bark thin, wood 

 indistinct, pith large ; odor slight ; taste astringent. 



Constituents. — Tannin 15 to 25 per cent., which on hydro- 

 lysis yields gallic acid ; starch ; and calcium oxalate. 



Allied Plants. — Other species of geranium contain similar 

 principles. 



