906 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



acids, consisting of palmitic, stearic, cerotic, oleic, and linolic acids ; ipuranol, 

 C 23 H 33 2 (0H) 2 ; a new monohydric alcohol, withaniol, C 25 H 33 4 , OH, decom- 

 posing at 305°, and having [a] D + 9P2 ; and an amorphous alkaloidal principle, 

 which, on treatment with alkalis, yielded a crystalline base, C 12 H 10 -N 2 (m. 

 p. 116°). 



II. Constituents of the Leaves and Stems.— An alcoholic extract of this 

 material, when submitted to distillation with steam, yielded a very small 

 amount of an essential oil. The portion of the extract which was soluble in 

 water contained, besides tannin and colouring matter, a sugar yielding 

 d-phenylglucosazone (m. p. 205°), and a considerable quantity of potassium 

 nitrate. 



The portion of the extract which was insoluble in water consisted chiefly 

 of resinous material, and was obtained in the form of a dark green powder. 

 This resin was found to contain a number of substances which had also been 

 isolated from the root of the plant, such as hentriacontane, a phytosterol, 

 C2 7 H 4t jO (m. p. 133°), a mixture of fatty acids, and ipuranol. In addition 

 to these, however, it yielded the following compounds : a new monohydric 

 alcohol, somnirol, C 32 H 43 6 , OH, decomposing at 205° and having [a]o -f S^ ; 

 a new dihydric alcohol, sommtol, C 33 H 44 5 (OH) 2 , decomposing at about 

 250°, and having [a]D+2l*2°; and an acidic, hydrolytic product, withanio 

 acid, C 29 H 4b (vC0 2 H (in. p. 226°), the methyl ester of which decomposed at 

 255°. 



In as much as the Withania somnifera, unlike some other solanaceous plants, 

 had been found to contain no mydriatic alkaloid, it was deemed of interest 

 to ascertain whether the sedative or hypnotic properties attributed to it 

 could be confirmed. For this purpose, some tests were kindly conducted for 

 us at the Wellcome Physiological Research Laboratories by Drs. H.H. Dale 

 and P. P. Laidlaw, to whom our thanks are due. It was thus ascertained 

 that alcoholic extracts, representing about 7 grams of the root and 3 grams 

 of the leaves and stems respectively, when administered to a dog had no 

 perceptible effect. The hypodermic injection of the alkaloidal principle 

 obtained from the root likewise produced in a dog no symptom of narcosis 

 or other definite result. J. Ch. S. 1911. pp. 506 507). 



867. W. Coagulans, Dunal. h.f.b.i., iv. 240. 



Vern : — Akri, Punir-ke-bij (Hind.) ; Habbul-kaknaje-Hindi 

 (Arab.); Tukhme-kaknaje-Hindi (Pers.) ; Ashvagandha (Beng.) ; 

 Amukhura-virai(Tam) ; Panneru-gadda-vittulu (Tel.); Kakanaja, 

 kaknaj (Bom.) ; Spinbajja, Shapiang, Khum-a-zare ; Makha- 

 zura ; Panir, Khamjira, Kutilaiia (Pb.) ; Punirband, Punir-ja= 

 fota (Sind). 



Habitat : — Punjab and Sind ; and the Sutledge valley. 



A somewhat grey, rigid, small shrub. Leaves densely clothed 

 with minute, grey, stellate tomentum. Blade l-2in., oblong, 



