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NOTE ON THE OCCUEEENCE OF DAPHNIN IN THE 
AETHEOSOLEN. 
By M. Eindl. 
(From the Chemical Laboratory of the G-rey University College, Bloem- 
fontein.) 
The ArtJirosolen polycephahis or Lasiosiphon polycephalus (Nat. Ord. 
Thymeleaceae) is a perennial shrub which flowers in August and September. 
It is known to the farmers as the Januariesbosje, and in certain districts a 
decoction of the plant is reputed to be an efficacious remedy for lamziekte. 
On the other hand it has been included in the list of plants suspected of 
causing lamziekte (J. Burtt-Davy, Preliminary Eeport on Botanical Investi- 
gation into Gral-Lamziekte, Union Agricultural Journal, August, 1912). As 
far as I can gather there is no reliable evidence either of its poisonous nature 
or of its medicinal virtues. The roots are extremely bitter to the taste. 
As a few preliminary tests seemed to indicate the presence of an alkaloid, 
the roots and stems were extracted for several weeks with a cold 5 per cent, 
solution of acetic acid. After separating the roots and stems from the 
extract the latter was treated with lead acetate, and the supernatant liquid 
siphoned off from the precipitate. The extract was treated with sulphuretted 
hydrogen to remove the lead, and concentrated. The solution was then 
saturated with sodium chloride and repeatedly extracted with ether. On 
removal of the greater part of the solvent a yellowish substance separated 
out which was purified by repeatedly recrystallising from water with animal 
charcoal. In view of the sparing solubility of the compound in ether this 
method seemed unsatisfactory, but all attempts to improve it by substituting 
other solvents immiscible with water proved unsuccessful. 
The compound was identified as daphnetin (3, 4-dihydroxycoumarin). It 
melts at 253-256° (corr. 261°) with partial decomposition, but begins to 
darken at a much lower temperature. It is sparingly soluble in cold, but 
readily in hot water, with a yellow colour, separating out as^ a mass of inter- 
laced acicular crystals of a slightly yellowish colour. 
It is readily soluble in alcohol, glacial acetic acid, and ethyl acetate, 
sparingly so in ether, and insoluble in petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, 
and carbon bisulphide. 
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