100 
E. M. Watson. 
VII.— VITAMINS. 
Very little work has been clone on the vitamin content of indigenous 
or introduced plants in Western Australia. Maiden (22) records that 
Trigonella suavissima Lindl. is an excellent antiscorbutic and that Portulaca 
oleracea L- is used for the same purpose and is apparently highly nutritious. 
Bum ex Aceto sella L. has been used in treatment of scurvy (32) but it may 
produce oxalic acid poisoning if eaten to excess. Hill (91) has deter- 
mined the ascorbic acid content of various cultivated fruits and has 
obtained evidence of the presence of carotene in the petroleum ether extract 
of Acacia acuminata wood (92). This was confirmed by Trikojus and 
Drummond (93) who isolated pure ^-carotene from the extract and ob- 
tained evidence of the presence of five other carotinoicl pigments. These 
five fractions were examined spectroscopically but they were not pure enough 
for differentiation and identification. Underwood and Conochie (94) have 
determined the carotene content of a number of pasture species, some of 
which are indigenous. 
VIII.— MEDICINAL SUBSTANCES. 
A number of products which are or could possibly be used in medicine 
have already been referred to in their appropriate sections, notably eucalyp- 
tus and sandalwood oils, the seeds of Strychnos lucida and the Alstoniae. 
There are, however, a few which have been used medicinally, some of which 
appear to warrant vigorous exploitation, and many winch require both 
chemical and physiological examination. Euphorbia pilulifera L., a tropical 
herb of wide distribution, is used in treatment of bronchitis and asthma. 
Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. is used as a demulcent diuretic, and wattle 
bark and eucalyptus kino are employed as astringents. 
Of some considerable importance are plants which are known to be 
of value in treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery. Outstanding among these 
is Grewia polygama Roxb., although it is not known whether it simply 
checks diarrhoea or will cure bacillary or amoebic dysentery. Alyxia buxi- 
folia has already been mentioned in this respect, and the following are also 
used either in South Africa, India or Australia for the samfc purpose: — 
Bidens bipinnata L., Er odium moschatum (L.) L’Her., Euphorbia alsinae- 
flora Baill., E volvulus alsinoides L. and Melastoma malabathricum L. 
Bitter substances find considerable use in tonics and much dandelion 
root is normally imported, as well as many other drugs, for this purpose. 
There are, however, many bitters available in the State and there should be 
little necessity to import such substances. Strychnos ' lucida has already 
been mentioned and there are many members of the family Gentianaeeae 
which might be profitably exploited. Among these are Erythraea australis 
R. Br., Sebaea ovata (Labill.) R. Br. and Villarsia spp. Additional bitters 
which might be employed are the Alstoniae, Petalostigma sericea (R. Br.) 
C. A. Gardn., Marrubium vulgar e L. and Codonocarpus cotonifolvus F. 
Muell. 
Many Cassia e contain emodins and resins and consequently act as 
purgatives. The leaves of C. Sophera L. are used as a substitute for senna 
in some parts of India and the related Western Australian Cassiae, par- 
ticularly C. pleurocarpa F. Muell., should be examined for similar proper- 
ties. Other plants which have been used as purgatives are Gratiola pedun- 
culata R. Br. and G. peruviana L., while the intensely bitter Afghan melon, 
Citrullus vulgaris Schrad., is almost certain to be a drastic purgative. 
