N. 0. 



yerbbenacejE. 997 



En Bombay, the juice of the young lea Yes is used as a 

 demulcent in gonorrhoea, cough, etc., either alone or combined 

 with other drugs of similar properties (Dymock). 



Chemical composition.— The root reduced to fine powder lost 839 per cent, 

 at 100 3 C. The ash amounted to 14 4 1 per cent., and was free from any trace 

 of manganese. 



On analysis the following results were obtained : — 



Petroleum ether extract 1*80 per cent. 



Ether ,, 21 „ „ 



Alcoholic „ 4'274 „ „ 



Aqueous „ 19*560 „ „ 



The petroleum ether extract consisted of a yellow viscid oil, with slight 

 siccative properties. On standing, white grains separated, whicli were non- 

 crystalline when examined microscopically. In alcohol the extract was partly 

 soluble ; no alkaloid was present. The ether extract was yellowish-white, 

 and contained a trace of oil ; it gave no reaction with ferric salts ; in addition 

 to resins a trace of benzoic acid was present. 



The alcoholic extract was yellow and brittle ; with water a turbid mixture 

 was obtained, which had a bitter taste. In addition to resins, a trace of an 

 alkaloidal principle was detected. 



The aqueous extract was sweetish and slightly bitter, and easily reduced 

 Pehling's solution on boiling. 



The fruit contained butyric acid, with a trace of tartaric acid a trace of 

 astringent matter giving a greenish coloration with ferric chloride, an 

 alkaloid, and a white principle, non-crystalline, and neutral, with resin and 

 saccharine matter. 



The alkaloids present in the fruit and in the root appear to be identical. 

 The amount present in each case was very small, not exceeding a trace. 

 (Pharmacographia Indica III, 71-7*2). 



957. O. asiatica, Linn., h.f.b.l, iv. 582 ; Roxb. 



487. 



Scuis. : — Biddari. 



Vern. : — Badhara, Nag-phul (Hind.) ; Gannudu, Chintaganer 

 Chelu (Tel.) ; Nalacomul (Tarn.) ; Nilak-kumizh (Tarn. ) ; Challa- 

 gummudu (Tel.) ; Nilak-kumazh (Mai.) ; Lahan shivan (Mar.). 



Habitat : — Deccan Peninsula and Bengal. 



Flowers appear along with young foliage. 4 upper lobes 

 dull orange-pink, lower one lemon-yellow. 



A large straggling shrub, with bright yellow flowers some- 

 times climbing, branches frequently spinescent, at times un- 

 armed. Bark brownish white thin. Wood hard grey. Leaves 

 i-liin., ovate or obovate, frequently lobed, pubescent when 

 young ; mature beneath, glabrous glaucescent from a coat of 



