N. 0. CONIFERS. 1231 



as a remedy for indigestion and epilepsy and as an aphrodisiac. 

 (Irvine.) The bark is used by Kunawaris as a substitute for tea 

 (Kanjilal.) 



The palp of the ripe fruit is non-poisonous ; the kernel contains the taxin. 

 This substance is prepared from its satd. soln. in very dil. Na CI soln., by 

 Na CI. NH 3 , NaOH, phospho-tungstic acid, phospho-rnolybdic acid, potassium 

 mercuric iodide, KI 3 , Esbach's reagent, Au Cl 3 and (NH 4 ) 2 S0 4 . With coned. 

 H 2 S0 4 , it gives a red color, and with Killiani's reagent a red ring ; KMn0 4 

 is decolorized in both acid and neutral soln. In CHC1 3 with a layer of coned. 

 H 2 S0 4 , a brown ring is formed. The unripe fruit is, perhaps, more poisonous 

 than the ripe. Taxin is not toxic to fish. Rabbits, guinea pigs, and cats, 

 if the dosage is cautiously increased, can stand many times the lethal doses 

 subcutaneously without harm. These animals thus become comparatively 

 immune to this poison very quickly. Game and cud-chewing domestic 

 animals stand moderate ambs. of yew needles without harm ; horses and other 

 solipeds, though more susceptible, likewise soon easily accustom themselves 

 to taxin. It may be extracted from the wine, into which it passes unchanged, 

 by Et 2 0, after adding Na 2 C0 3 . The action of taxin consists in motor excitation 

 of the central nerve system, followed by paralysis. (Chem. Abst., Sept. 

 10, 1915, p. 2403.) 



The alkaloid, taxine, was obtained from the green leaves and the air-dried 

 leaves. Its formula is C 37 H 52 O 10 N. 



The physiological action of taxine was examined in 1876 by Borchero, who 

 states that, when administered to frogs, rabbits, cats and dogs, it depresses 

 the action of the heart and interferes with the respiratory functions, and th at 

 death ensues from suffocation in a short time. It has been asserted, however, 

 that taxine has no action on guinea pigs. Further experiments are required 

 to establish definitely whether the alkaloid is actually poisonous, and if so, 

 how it acts, and whether, as alleged, certain animals are immune to it. 

 (Thorpe & Stubbs, J. Ch. S. 1902, p. 880.) 



Autumn-gathered leaves of male and female trees have been investigated. 

 The alkaioid was extracted by digesting the powdered air-dried leaves with 

 1 per cent. Sulphuric acid for five or six days. The acid liquid was strained and 

 pressed from the leaves, and at once, without concentration, rendered alkaline 

 and extracted with ether. Taxine was obtained in the form of very fine 

 glistering particles by crushing down the residue from the ether extract. 

 It gives precipitate with most of the alkaloidal reagents, and colour reactions 

 with strong sulphuric acid alone, and when this reagent is mixed with nitric 

 acid, molybdic acid, or chromic acid. (Y. E. Thorpe & G. Stubbs Proc. Ch. S. 

 for 1902, p. 123.) 



1219. Pinus longifolia, Roxb., h.f.b.l, v. 652 ; 

 Roxb. 677. 



Sans. : — Sarala, oleo-resin = sarala drava, sricasa, kshira. 

 Vern. : — Salla, saral, chir, chil, oleo-resin = ganda-biroza, 

 chir-ka-gond (Hind.) ; Dhup, sala, dhup, sula, oleo-resin= dhup, 



