N. 0. ASCLEPIADE.E. 819 



uncertain in its operation (U. S. Dispensatory, 15th Edi., p. 

 1579). Ph. Indies, p. 142. 



Dr. Guimarae found it to act directly upon the organic 

 muscular system, and specially upon the heart and blood-vessels, 

 causing great constriction of the latter and distension of the 

 larger arteries. Secondarily, it occasioned great dyspnoea, vomit- 

 ing and diarrhoea (Dymock). 



Dr. Gram (Arckice f. exp. path U. Pharm. xix ; 384) has found the plant to 

 contain an active principle of a glucosidal character, which he has named as- 

 clepiadin, and appears to consider a purer form of the aselepiadin of Uarnack 

 and the asclepin of Feneulle This substance was yellowish, amorphous, and 

 when freshly prepared very soluble in water, but either in solution or in a 

 dry state it quickly decomposed, sugar being separated, and the residual 

 compound becoming in proportion insoluble in water and inert. From an 

 ethereal solution crystals gradually separated out, apparently identical with 

 List's asclepione and quite inactive physiologically. 



The physiological action of the unaltered aselepiadin was found to closely 

 resemble that of emetin, but in view of the instability of the compound Dr. 

 Gram doubts whether it can be advantageously introduced into medicine. 



Asclepione C 40 H 34 O 6 was discovered by C. List in the milk Sap of Asclepias 

 syriaca (Gmelin Handle 17, 368.) Fineulle separated a resinous substance 

 and a bitter principle (asclepin) from Asclepias Vincet- xicum. (J. Pharm. 

 11,305,) (Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. II. p. 428). 



775. Pentatropis spiralis, Dene, h.f.b.i., iv. 19. 



Vern. : — Ambarvel, van veri, arkapushpi (Ph.); Singarota 

 (Bomb.); Shigaroti (Guz.). 



Habitat: — The Punjab, Sindh, and eastwards to the Jumna 

 river. 



A small twining shrub with tuberous roots, almost glabrous. 

 Leaves f-l£ in. long, variable in width, ovate oblong or linear, 

 acute or obtuse ; usually mucronate, more or less fleshy, base 

 rounded or cordate, petioles slender, ^-i m - l° n g> puberulous 

 when young. Cymes 3-6-fld. Flowers greenish ; peduncles 

 short or none, pedicels \-\ in. long, filiform. Calyx minute, 

 deeply divided, puberulous ; lobes ovate, acuminate. Corolla 

 \ in. in diam., divided nearly to the base ; segments \-\ in. long, 



narrowly acuminate, glabrous outside, puberulous within. 



Corona-scales deltoid-ovate acute or acuminate. 



