N. 0. CRUCIFERiE. 89 



The physiological action of Cbeiranthin resembles that 



of the digitalis compounds, 



Cheirinine, C l3 H 35 17 N 3 , obtained from the alcoholic extract of the 

 seeds of the wall-flower, crystallises in small, colourless needles, melts 

 at 73—74°, and is soluble in warm water, alcohol, ether, chloroform, or ethy- 

 lacetate. The aqueous solution is neutral and gives precipitates with 

 the ordinary alkaloidal reagents. The physiological action of cheirinine 

 resembles that of quinine. 



The seeds also contain choline. J. Ch. S. LXXVIII. pt. I. (1900) p. 186, 



72. Nasturtium officinale, R, Br, h.f.b.i., 

 i. 133. 



Eng. : — The Water-cress, 



Ver. : — Piriya halim (Kumaon). 



Habitat : — Rohilkhand, Punjab (N. India). Found near all 

 hill-stations, but probably introduced. Simla in ditches, Ceylon, 

 found naturalized at Kandy (Trimen). 



An aquatic. Stem creeping and floating, much branched. 

 Leaves pinnate, the upper with 3-7 pinules and a terminal one, 

 the lower cut into. 3 repand segments. Flowers white, in short 

 racemes. Petals longer than the sepals. Pods } — 1 in., stalked, - 

 spreading or bent upward ; seeds small, 2-seriate. 



Use: — Used as a salad, on account of its appetizing and 



anti-scorbutic properties. 



The essential oil consists chiefly of phenylethylenethiocarbimide, C 6 H Se 

 CH 2 .CH 2 .N: CS, which was identified by converting it into the thiocarbamide. 

 The glucoside from which these are derived, is named ' gluconasturtiin,' and 

 is regarded as having the constitution— 



CH 2 Ph.CH 2 .N.C(S.C 6 H 11 5 ).O.S0 3 K+^H 2 0, but could only be obtained as 

 a syrup ; by decomposition with silver nitrate, it gives 'silver nasturtiate,' 



CH 2 Ph.CH 2 .N:C(SA g ).O.S0 3 A ff -}-2H 2 0, which also forms a crystalline 

 compound with 2NH 3 , but loses this at ordinary temperatures. 



When acted on by sodium thiosuljDhate, silver nasturtiate gives a clear 

 solution which probably contains the sodium salt, but soon decomposes into 

 sodium sulphate and the thiocarbamide, which can then be extracted with 

 ether. J. Ch. S. 1899 A I. 930. 



From this plant phenyletl^lthiocarbirnide, CH 2 Ph.CH.NCS is obtained. 



Silver nasturtiate is soluble in ammonia in the presence of ammonium 

 nitrate, but is precipitated by nitric acid, and is decomposed by sodium 

 12 



