840 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



to be preferable to the alkaloid strychnine. As a general tonic in retaxed 

 conditions of the muscular system, and in delirium tremens, strychnine is an 

 invaluable remedy. It is also used with advantage as a stimulant of the 

 nervous centres in some forms of paralysis after the symptoms of irritation 

 have sub-sided, and in sexual debility. Applied externally nuxvomica acts as 

 an irritant, and if the skin is abraded its active principles may be absorbed 

 and give rise to symptoms of poisoning. 



Prof. C. Pacesi (Bollitina Farmaceutica, 1881,) has demonstrated the an- 

 tiseptico properties of the different species of Strychnos and their alkaloids, 

 and suggests that the effectiveness of the species of Strychnos which are used 

 in tropical countries against fevers and poisonous bites may possibly be 

 owing to the antiseptic and anti-fermentative power of alkaloids. Pharmaco- 

 graphica Indica, Vol. II. p. 1466). 



Lauder Brunton (Practitioner, Jan. 1888,) recommends strychnine in 

 sleeplessness due to mental fatigue, caused by strain or worry as preferable 

 to opium, chloral and bromides. He has given 1/200 to 1/100 grain of the 

 alkaloid, or 5 to 10 minims of tincture of nuxvomica at bed-time, the dose 

 being repeated if the patient wake within one or two hours. 



G. A. Gibson (Practitioner, Dec. ,1889,) strongly recommends the hypodermic 

 injection of strychnine in case of opium narcosis or in any case of narcotic 

 poisoning where there occurs any irregularity or interruption of the breathing 

 that appears to threaten a failure of the respiratory centre. (Pharuiaeo- 

 graphida Indica, Vol. II. p. 466). 



It contains the two well known alkaloids-strychnine and brucine. 



A new alkaloid, struxine, has been found in Nux vomica, associated with 

 strychnine and brucine. In neutralising the acid solution of the crude 

 alkaloid sulphates of Nux vomica, the new alkaloid separates as a base when 

 the liquor is just neutral or is still slightly acid, while strychnine and 

 brucine remain in solution. When purified by reprecipitation and crystal- 

 lisation from alcohol, struxine was obtained as colourless crystals, which 

 begin to char when heated at about 250° C. Its mol. wt. is 371 and probable 

 formula, C 21 H 30 N 3 4 . It forms normal and acid salts. Only a few lots 

 of Nux vomica, contained this substance, and then the quantities yielded 

 differed greatly among the different lots. All the beans which contained 

 this alkaloid were from shipments made from Cochin-China ; these lots, 

 which consisted mostly of small beans, insect-eaten and partly decomposed 

 by prolonged exposure in wet fields, contained the largest percentage of the 

 alkaloid (average 01%). It is supposed that the new alkaloid is a product 

 of decomposition, by fermentation or oxidation of either strychnine or 

 brucine. J. Ch. I for 15th March, 1916 p. 246. 



Iu the germination of Strychnos Nux Vomica, brucine is formed first in all 

 parts. Both strychnine and brucine are formed independently of light in 

 the germination leaves before the chlorophyll makes its appearance. The 

 alkaloidal content of the different parts in percentages is:— Original seeds 

 2 98, seed husks after exfoliation 211, young germination rootlets 4 48, older 

 germination rootlets 8-72, hypocotyledonous axis 243, young cotyledons 

 whilst yellow 6-62, when older and green 4.65.-U. Ch. I., for 15th February, 

 1911, p. 151). 



