64 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



Murraya exotica, L. {M. pankulatu, Jack.; Connarus fee- 

 tens, and C. santaloides, Blanco.) 



NoM. YuLG. — Kamunig, Tag. 



Uses. — The leaves are stimulant and astringent, and are 

 used in infusion (15 grams, to water one liter) to treat diarrhea 

 and dysentery. The root and trunk bai'ks are used for the same 

 treatment and they as well as the leaves owe their properties 

 to an essential oil and a bitter principle present in all parts 

 of the plant. Vry has demonstrated the presence of a glucoside 

 which he has named murrayin (CjgH^jO,!,) ; it crystallizes in 

 small, white needles, is slightly bitter, soluble in hot water and 

 alcohol, insoluble in ether, slightly soluble in cold water. It 

 melts at 170°, and dissolves in alkaline solutions coloring them 

 green. Boiled in dilute acids it splits into murrayetin and glu- 

 cose. Murrayetin {^i^ifii^ crystallizes in white needles, in- 

 odorous, tasteless, slightly soluble in cold water and in ether, 

 soluble in hot water and alcohol. Heat destroys its green color 

 in solutions ; alkalies, in the presence of cold, increase it. The 

 leaves and the bark of the plant contain an essential oil. 



The foregoing description of this species applies equally well 

 to the following species. 



Botanical Desceiption. — A small tree 12° high with 

 leaves alternate, odd-pinnate. Leaflets lanceolate, almost en- 

 tire, rigid with small dots on each surface. Flowers in axil- 

 lai-y, very short, compound racemes. Calyx very small, mon- 

 ophyllous, 5 lanceolate lobules. Corolla much longer than 

 the calyx, 5 lanceolate petals. Stamens 10, joined, but not 

 entirely united at the base ; 5 alternate stamens longer than the 

 others. Anthers sessile, regular. Ovary superior, compressed 

 and borne on a disc. Style 1, same length as the stamens. 

 Stigma thick, depressed, apparently 4-angled. Fruit fleshy, 

 ovoid, acute and somewhat curved at the end enclosing a seed 

 with coriaceous, downy testa. 



