968 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



little essential oil, which was separated by extraction with alkalies ; the rest 

 of it was " kalmegh resin," a portion of which was extracted by first making 

 it alkaline with caustic potash and shaking up with ether. It can be further 

 extracted with ether after acidification with an acid. 



Chloroform Extract. 



This contained, besides chlorophyll, an amorphous white substance an d very 

 little of a bitter substance, the former of which separated out on concentra- 

 ting the chloroform extract. Its melting-point is 221° 0. It is tasteless and 

 insoluble in water and alcohol. It is unacted upon by acids and alkalies. 



Extraction of the Bitter Principles. 



For this extraction the powdered leaves and stems were exhausted in a 

 percolator with alcohol. * * * * * * 



The residue remaining in the flask separated into two layers, one aqueous 

 and the other solid ; the former, when allowed to cool, deposited some yellow 

 colored crystals (bitter a) ; the latter was boiled with water and filtered hot ; 

 from the filtrate a white amorphous precipitate was deposited having an 

 extremely bitter taste (bitter b). 



Examination of the Bitter Principle (a). 



This was purified by dissolution in alcohol and fractional precipitation ; 

 the process was repeated three times. It had a pale-yellow coloy. When a 

 little of the substance was heated in a test-tube it diffused a very fragrant 

 odor. It had melting point of 2'06° C. * * * * * 



The substance is very soluble in ethyl and methyl alcohol, though not to the 

 above extent in amyl alcohol. It is very slightly soluble in chloroform and 

 ether. Benzene and petroleum ether do not dissolve it even on boiling. 



It is neither an alkaloid nor a giucoside, as it neither contains nitrogen 



nor produces a reducing sugar after hydrolysis. It can be acetylated, — i.e., it 



contains hydroxyl groups ; the acetyl derivative is white and insoluble in 



water. Its melting-point is 95° C. * * * * * 



Examination of the Bitter Principle (b). 



It was a white amorphous substance having an extremely bitter taste. It 

 is odorless, and its melting-point is 185° C. It is practically insoluble in cold 

 water. When a little of the substance was boiled for a long time with water, 

 the latter acquired a slightly acid reaction. It is soluble in alcohol and 

 chloroform. * * The formula C 1Q H 51 5 is given to it, * * * 



The name " Kalmeghin "is proposed for it. 



A white substance separated out when bitter (b) was treated with an acid. 



This was washed with water and dried. It had an acid reaction and was 

 soluble in alkalies, neutralizing it. As it was derived from Kalmeghin the 

 name " Kalmeghic acid " was given to it. * * The formula is C 14 H 23 O a . 



927. A. echioides, Nees. h.f.b.l, iv. 505. 

 Syn. : — Justicia echioides, Linn. Roxb. 40. 

 Vern. :- Peetumba (Malaly) ; Ran Chiinani (Deccani). 



