N. 0. LEGUMINOSiE. 
473 
This plant, like several others of the same genus, owes its medicinal 
activity to the presence of chrysophanic acid, sometimes called Rhein, form 
C^H^O.*" (O.H.j) This substance belongs to the anthracene group of carbon 
compounds, and, like alizarin, is regarded as dioxyan thraquinone, 
C u H fi 0 7 " {g«}. It crystallizes in Six-sided prisms, is tasteless, and may 
be sublimed without decomposition ; it is contained in Goa powder (50 per 
cent.), rhubarb, most varieties of dock, Lichen orcella , Permelia parietina, 
Cassia alata, 0. occidentalis, 0. Torn, &c. As met with in commerce, it is in 
the form of a light-yellow poder, soluble in benzol, chloroform, turpentine, 
and in the fixed and volatile oils to a large extent, sparingly soluble in ether 
and alcohol, and insoluble in water, glycerine, and in solid paraffin. It is dis- 
solved by sulphuric and nitric acids (in the latter to a less extent!, by caustic 
potash and by ammonia ; fuses at 123°3 C. , and boils at 232°2 C. At the latter 
temperaturo it is decomposed into a dark-green resinous substance, which is 
largely soluble in ether. Oil Jocoris dissolves twice its weight of the acid, 
yielding a mixture containing 70 per cent. Oil olivee, Oil Pini sylvest., 
Oreagotum, Oil Terebinth., Oil Lavand., and Vaseline, dissolve readily their 
own weight of acid, yielding mixtures containing 52 per cent. 
“ Taking advantage of its solubility in the fixed oils, a considerable 
saving may be effected by preparing ointments direct from Araroba. Oil 
olivse thoroughly exhausts that substance, yielding the acid after removal of 
the oil by ether in a state of purity. The Singhalese doctors take advantage 
of this fact, and fry the leaves of Cassia alata, C. Tora, 0. occidentalis, and C. 
Sophera in gingelly or castor oil. The strained product is used as an oint- 
ment for ring-worm and other skin diseases." ( F . Laker Macmillan, Phar. 
Journ., 15 th March 1879.) 
420 . C. obtusifolia, Linn, h . f . b . i ., ii . 263 . 
Syn. : — Senna Tora and toroides, Roxb. 351. 
Eng. The foetid Cassia. 
Sans. : — Prabunatha, dddamari, dadmadan. 
Vern. : — Chakunda, panevar (H. & B.) ; Chakaoda arak. 
(Santal) ; Pawar, panwar, pawas, chakunda ( Pb. ) ; Panwar 
(N.-W.P.) tak4la, tarotd, takla, tankli (Mar.) ; Kawdrio, kovariza 
(Gnz.) ; Tdnkala, kowaria (Bom.); Tarota (Duk.) ; Usbittagarai, 
tarotak Tam.;; Tagarisha-chettu (Tel.). 
Habitat : — Found everywhere in Bengal, and widely spread 
throughout India. 
An annual weed growing up into an undershrub. Leaves 
distinctly petioled, furnished with glands on the main racliis 
between the leaflets ; glabrous. Leaflets 6, ovate-oblong, per- 
fect, glaucous, membranous, l-lain. Stipules large, linear sub- 
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