N. O ASOLEPIADE.E. 
825 
precipitate, a dark-coloured resinous product was obtained. This substance, 
which was termed by Hooper “ gymnemic acid," is a complex mixture, from 
which ethyl acetate extracts a portion possessing the property of temporarily 
destroying the sense of taste for sweet substances ; this latter product, for 
which it is proposed to reserve the name “ gymnemic acid," although there is 
no evidence that it is a homogeneous substance, amounts to about 6 per cent, 
of the air-dried leaves. Tt has weak acidic properties and, when fused with 
potassium hydroxide, yields acetic acid and a molecular compound of proto- 
catechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids which melts at 192'' ; on oxidation with 
potassium permanganate, formic acid is produced. The resinous substance 
associated with the gymnemic acid in the precipitate obtained with sulphuric 
acid is also of an acidic nature, and yields the same products on fusion with 
potassium hydroxide The liquid from which the above substances had been 
separated was found to contain l-quercitol, together with i-dextrose. The 
fruits of gymnema tyluettre contain the same substances as the leaves, with 
the exception of f-quereitol. 
Gymnemic acid and the resinous substance insoluble in ethyl acetate are 
devoid of toxic properties.— (Fred. B. Power and Frank Tutin, Pharm. J. 1904.) 
J. Ch. 8. Vol. LXXXVI., pp. 763-764. 
780 . Marsdenia Royleii, Wight, h.f.b.i., iv. 35 . 
Vern. : — Pathor (Chenal.)' ; Tar, veri (Salt Range) ; Kurang 
(Simla) ; Murkula (Hind.). 
Habitat : — Eastern and Western Himalaya, from Simla to 
Kumaon and Sikkim. 
A twining shrub. Young parts soft tomentose. Brandies, 
petioles, leaves beneath and cymes finely pubescent or tomentose. 
Leaves 3-6 by 2-4in , often velvety beneath, ovate, cordate, 
acuminate; base usually deeply cordate. Cymes 11 Jin. diam., 
corymbose. Calyx hairy outside. Corolla J-J-in. ’ diam., lobes 
pubescent without, villous within, coronal scales slender, subu- 
late, far exceed : lg the short anther-tips. Stigma dome-shaped. 
Follicles turgid, 3in. long, 1 to 1 Jin. broad, with a beak-like 
tip, straight ; pericarp thick, transversely rugose, puberulous 
Seeds Jin. long. 
Uses .—The unripe fruit is powdered and given as a cooling 
medicine (Stewart). A decoction is used as a remedy in gonor- 
rhoea. 
781. Tylophora fasciculata, Ram., h.f.b.i., iv 
40. 
Vern. Bhui-dori (Bomb.). 
104 
