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XI. — The Pharmacological Action of Harmaline. By James A. Gunn, M.A., M.D., 

 D.Sc. (From the Pharmacology Laboratory of the University of Edinburgh.) 

 Communicated by Sir Thomas R. Fraser, M.D., F.R.S. 



(MS. received November 4, 1909. Read November 22, 1909. Issued separately December 31, 1909.) 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



Introductory . . . . . . . 245 



A. Lethality of Harmaline 247 



B. Symptoms produced by Harmaline — 



(a) In Frogs 249 



(U) In Mammals — 



1. Guinea-pigs 250 



2. Cats 251 



C. Action on the Cerebro-Spinal Nervous 



System — 



(a) Brain and Spinal Cord .... 252 



(6) Nerve 254 



PAGE 



D. Action on Skeletal Muscle .... 255 



E. Action on the Circulation — 



(a) Heart 256 



(6) Blood-vessels 260 



(c) Heart and Blood-vessels (Blood Pressure) 261 



F. Action on Respiration ..... 269 



G. Action on Temperature 269 



H. Action on the Uterus . . • . . . 270 



General Summary . . . . . . 271 



Introductory. 



Harmaline is one of two alkaloids found in the seeds of Peganum Harmala, a 

 strong-smelling herbaceous plant belonging to the order of Rutaceae. This plant 

 grows to a height of from 1 to 3 feet, is much branched, and profusely covered with 

 leaves. It is found wild in S. Europe, Asia Minor, Egypt, Arabia, N.W. India, and 

 Siberia. It is the Hnyavov aypiov (wild rue) of Dioscorides, Htyavov being the name 

 still applied in Greece to several species of Ruta. 



The seeds were used medicinally by the ancient Greeks, as they are to this day in 

 India, where they are known chiefly by the old Arabic name of Harmal. In Europe 

 they were formerly much employed as Semen Rutce sylvestris, and as such are enu- 

 merated among the simples of several of the early London Pharmacopoeias.* 



The seeds are of a dark brown colour, and contain (1) a red colouring matter, 

 which was at one time imported into England from the Crimea as a dye ; (2) oil ; 

 (3) a soft resin of a deep carmine lake colour, having a heavy odour like that of 

 Cannabis Indica ; (4) two alkaloids, harmaline and harmine. 



Harmaline (C 13 H 14 N 2 0) was discovered in 1837 by Gobel, and harmine (C 13 H 12 N 2 0) in 

 1847 by Fritche. According to the latter, the total yield of alkaloid is 4 per cent., of 

 which two-thirds is harmaline and one-third harmine. 



Harmaline crystallises in yellow rhombic octahedra, neutralises acids, and forms 



* Fluckiger, Year-booh of Pharmacy, 1871, p. 600. 

 TRANS. ROY. SOC. EDIN., VOL. XLVIL, PART II. (NO. 11). 37 



