N. 0. ASOLEPIADEjE. 
819 
uncertain in its operation (<J. S. Dispensatory, 15t)i Ed'i., p. 
1579). Ph. Indica, p. 142. 
Dr. Guimane found it to act directly upon the organic 
muscular system, aud specially upon the heart and blood-vessels, 
causing great constriction of the latter and distension of the 
larger arteries. Secondarily, it occasioned great dyspnoea, vomit- 
ing and diarrhoea (Dymock). 
fir. Gram (Archioo f. exp. path D. Pharm. xix ; 884) has found the plant to 
contain an active principle of a glucosidal character, -which he has named as- 
• clepiadin, and appears to consider a purer form of the asclepiadin of Harnack 
and the asclepin of Feneulle This substance was yellowish, amorphous, and 
When freshly prepared very soluble in water, but either in solution or in a 
dry state it quickly decomposed, sugar being separated, and the residual 
compound becoming in proportion insoluble in water and inert. From an 
ethereal solution crystals gradually separated out, apparently identical with 
List’s asclepione and quite inactive physiologically. 
The physiological action of the unaltered asclepiadin was found to closely 
resemble that of emetin, but in view of the instability of the compound Dr. 
Gram doubts whether it can to advantageously introduced into medicine. 
Asclepione C"H 3 '0° was discovered by C. List in the milk Sap of Asclepias 
syriaea (Gmelin Handle 17, 3C8.) Fineulle separated a resinous substance 
and a bitter principle (asclepin) from Asclepias Vincet xieum. (J. Pharm. 
11,305,) ( Pharmacograpliia Tndica, Vol. II. p. 428). 
775 . Pentatropis spiralis, Dene, h.f b.i., iv. 19 . 
Vern . : — Ambarvel, van veri, arkapusbpi (Pb.); Singarota 
(Bomb.) ; Shigaroti (Guz.). 
Habitat : — The Punjab, Sindh, and eastwards to the Jumna 
river. 
A small twining shrub with tuberous roots, almost glabrous. 
Leaves f-l-g in. long, variable in width, ovate oblong or linear, 
acute or fibtuse ; usually mucronate, more or less fleshy, base 
rounded or cordate, petioles slender, in. long, puberulous 
when young. Cymes 3-6-fld. Flowers greenish ; peduncles 
short or none, pedicels in. long, filiform. Calyx minute, 
deeply divided, puberulous ; lobes ovate, acuminate. Corolla 
2 in. in diam., 'divided nearly to the base ; segments in. long, 
narrowly acuminate, glabrous outside, puberulous within. 
Corona-scales deltoid-ovate acute or acuminate. Follicles 2-3 
