840 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
to be preferable to the alkaloid strychnine. As a general tonic in retaxed 
conditions of the muscular system, and in delirium tremens, strychnine is an 
invaluable remedy. It is also used with advantage as a stimulant of the 
nervous centres in some forms of paralysis after the symptoms of irritation 
have sub-sided, and in sexual debility. Applied externally nuxvomica acts as 
an irritant, and if the skin is abraded its active principles may be absorbed 
and give rise to symptoms of poisoning. 
Prof. C. Paoesi (Bollitina Farmaceutica, 1881,) has demonstrated the an- 
tiseptico properties of the different species of Strychnos and their alkaloids, 
and suggests that the effectiveness of the species of Strychnos which are used 
in tropica) countries against fevers and poisonous bites may possibly be 
owing to the antiseptic and anti-fermentative power of alkaloids. Pharmaco- 
grapbica Indies, Vol. II. p. 1466). 
Lauder Brunton (Practitioner, Jan. 1888,) recommends strychnine in 
sleeplessness due to mental fatigue, caused by strain or worry as preferable 
to opium, chloral and bromides. He has given 1/200 to 1/100 grain of the 
alkaloid, or 6 to 10 minims of tincture of nuxvomica at bed-time, the dose 
being repeated if the patient wake within one or two hours. 
G. A. Gibson (Practitioner, Dec. ,1889,) strongly recommends the hypodermic 
injection of strychnine in case of opium narcosis or in any case of narcotic 
poisoning where there occurs any irregularity or interruption of the breathing 
that appears to threaten a failure of the respiratory centre. (Pharmaeo- 
graphida Indica, Yol. If. p. 466). 
It contains the two well known alkaloids-strychnine and brucine. 
A new alkaloid, struxine, has been found in Niue vomica, associated with 
strychnine and brucine. In neutralising the aoid solution of the crude 
alkaloid sulphates of Nux vomica, the new alkaloid separates as a base when 
the liquor is just neutral or is still slightly acid, while strychnine and 
"brucine remain in solution. When purified by reprecipitation and crystal- 
lisation from alcohol, struxine was obtained as colourless crystals, which 
begin to char when heated at about 250° C. Its mol. wt. is 371 and probable 
formula, C 2 , H so N s 0 4 . It forms normal and acid salts. Only a few lots 
of Nux vomica, contained this substance, and then the quantities yielded 
differed greatly among the different lots. All the beans which contained 
this alkaloid were from shipments made from Cochin-China ; these lots, 
which consisted mostly of small beans, insect-eaten and partly decomposed 
by prolonged exposure in wet fields, contained the largest percentage of the 
alkaloid (average 01%). It is supposed that the new alkaloid is a product 
of decomposition, by fermentation or oxidation of either strychnine or 
brucine. J. Ch. I for 15th March, 1916 p. 246. 
In the germination of Strychnos Nux Vomica, brucine is formed first in all 
parts. Both strychnine and brucine are formed independently of light in 
the germination leaves before the chlorophyll makes its appearance. The 
alkaloidal content of the different parts in percentages is:— Original seeds 
2 98, seed husks after exfoliation 211, young germination rootlets 4 48, older 
germination rootlets 3'72, hypocotyledonous axis 2'43, young cotyledons 
whilst yellow 6'62. when older and green 4.65.— (J. Ch. I., for 16th February, 
1911, p. 151). 
