258 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Very similar to the Japanese 8. Japonica, Thumb., but the flowers are 

 4-merous in that species. 



A poisonous alkaloid, Skimmianine, has been found to be present in all 

 parts of Skimmia Japonica, but most abundantly in the leaves. .It was 

 isolated from the latter by extracting with 96 per cent, alcohol. Skimmiunine, 

 32 H 29 9 N 3 , crystallises from alcohol, in yellow, four-sided prisms, melts at 

 175* 5,° and is readily soluble in chloroform or alcohol, moderately so in methyl 

 alcohol, very sparingly so in ether, atnyl alcohol, or carbon disulphide, and 

 insoluble in water or light petroleum. All the solutions are neutral to 

 litmus. The solutions of the base are almost tasteless, but those of the salts 

 are very bitter. 



Injection of skimmianine into the femoral lymphatics of Rana eseulenta 

 or Rana temporaria affects the appearance of the muscles at the place of 

 application, and renders them stiff and brittle. The neighbouring muscles 

 are also affected by larger doses. Voluntary motion becomes sluggish, the 

 breathing superficial, and the pupils contract. Reflex sensibility appeared 

 as a rule to increase only in the case of Rana eseulenta. The absolute 

 strength, and the work performed by the muscles, were apparently dimi- 

 nished. The alkoloid has probably a direct action on the muscles of the 

 heart, decreasing the pulsations and causing disturbance of the diastole. The 

 pulse is similarly affected, even when atropine has been previously adminis- 

 tered. Intravenous injection, in the case of rabbits, causes general symptoms 

 of poisoning. Slight poisoning is accompanied by feeble spasms. The pressure 

 of the blood falls even when chloral has been administered, but after a time 

 it increases again, probably owing to the compensating contraction of the 

 peripheral vessels. Skimmianine has no effect on the secretion of urine. 



(I.Honda Chem Centr. 1904. II., 15-11-1512) 



J. Oh. S. LXXXV11I., pt II., p. 152. 



It is probable that the same alkaloid is also present in the 

 Indian species, which deserves careful examination. At my re- 

 quest, Mr. Satis Chandra Deb, M.A , Professor of Chemistry, Muir 

 Central College, Allahabad, analysed the leaves of the plant, from 



which he obtained an alkaloid, but it was not in sufficiently large 

 quantity to determine its nature. B.D B. 



230. Acronychia laurifolia, Bhune. h.f.b.i., i. 498. 



Vern. -. — (Sinhalese) Akenda. 



Habitat : — Sikkim Himalaya, in hot valleys; Khasia Mountains* 

 Assam ; Chittagong ; Eastern Peninsula ; Western Peninsula, 

 on the Ghats, from Concan to Travancore. Ce}don, moist regions, 

 from sea-level up to 5,000ft. ; common in Malaya and Cochin- 

 China. 



