172 The Philippine Journal of Science mx 



van Rijn's methods for isolating and testing saponins showed 

 any positive results. No crystalline products of hydrolysis were 

 obtained. Several injections of the aqueous solutions were made 

 into guinea pigs, but without any results to indicate the presence 

 of physiologically active constituents; also the water-insoluble 

 portions were administered in oil without results. Tannins are 

 present, but as they show an indifferent nature in regard to 

 this work, their classification was not determined. From the 

 water extracts they are entirely precipitated by lead acetate, 

 while gold chloride gives a positive color in the Seyda test 13 for 

 tannins. 



The red substance insoluble in water and ether is fairly soluble 

 in alcohol and in dilute ammonia, thus closely resembling the 

 anhydrides of tannic acids or the phlobaphenes. The aqueous 

 solution, from which this substance separates, strongly reduces 

 Fehling's solution. 



The bitter taste found in Erythrophloeum densiflorum may be 

 attributed to the presence of the natural tannins. The important 

 chemical difference between Erythrophloeum guineense and the 

 Philippine species, Erythrophloeum densiflorum, is due to the 

 presence of the alkaloidal substance erythophloeine in the bark 

 of the former plant and its absence in the latter. 



This result clearly shews that plants of the same morphologic 

 characteristics may differ greatly, due to the nature of the sub- 

 stances that they elaborate in their economy. 



QUISQUALIS INDICA LINN. (COMBRETACE^) 



Pinones (Sp. and F.), niogniogan (T. in Rizal, Bataan, Min- 

 doro), tangolo (T- in Tayabas and Camarines), talolon (T. and 

 V.), talulong (T. in Marinduque), tangolong, tangulong (T. in 

 Rizal and Manila), tagarao (T. in Rizal), babebabe (Pam. in 

 Pampanga), bo-nor (V. in Mindoro), balitadhan (V.), tal-lolang 

 (II. in Camiguin Island), tartaro (II. in Ilocos), tahdong (Ibanag 

 in Cagayan), taungon (Butuan in Agusan), and twtaraoc (Zam. 

 in Zambales). 



The fruit of Quisqualis ind.ica, called niogniogan or pinones in 

 Manila, is a popular remedy. It is used in every country where 

 it grows, and its anthelminthic properties are widely known- 



Mercado, 14 writing in the last third of the seventeenth century, 

 speaks of the anthelminthic properties of pinones seeds. Lou- 



" Seyda, A., Chem. Zeitg. (1898), 22, 1085. 



" Mei-cado, I., Libro de Medicinas de Esta Tierra, in Blanco, Flora de 

 Filipinas. 3d ed. (1880), 4, 53. 



