N. 0. S0LANA0EA 
905 
“ The plant is very common along the shores of the Mediter- 
ranean, where it has always been reputed to be hypnotic. The 
properties of W. somnifera have recently been investigated by 
Dr. Trebut, with regard to its reputation for hypnotic proper- 
ties ; he states that he has obtained an alkaloid from it which 
has hypnotic action and does not produce mydriases. P. L. 
Simmonds (Amer. Jotirn. Pharm., Feb., 1891) states that the 
plant is employed at the Civil Hospital, Alger, as a sedative and 
hypnotic.” Pharmacographia Indies, II. 567). 
In the Punjab, used for lumber pains and considered aphro- 
disiac. In Sind, used to cause abortion. 
The seeds act as diuretic and hypnotic (Irvine). The late 
Dr. Burton Brown of Lahore recorded a fatal case of poisoning 
by the seeds of this plant. Rajputs regard the root as useful in 
rheumatism and dyspepsia. 
Dr. Lai Mohan Ghosal concludes his paper on the Physio- 
logical Study of the properties of this drug as follows : — 
1. The drug has two principles— one a bitter crystalline 
principle and the other an alkaloidal body. 
2. The drug has got a sedative action on the nerves; the 
sedative effect is probably due to the action of the bitter prin- 
ciple which when injected into a guineapig caused a sort of 
sedative action. This is also verified by the convulsion and 
coma caused by the injection of the alkaloid. 
3. The drug although acts as a sedative has got no de- 
pressant action on the heart at the same time. (Food and Drugs, 
Vol. I. p. 127). 
Messrs. F.- B. Power and A. H. Sal way summarize the 
results of their analysis of this drug as follows: — 
Preliminary tests, conducted with both portions of the plant, indicated the 
presence of an alkaloid. 
I. Constituents of the Itoot .— An alcoholic extract of the root, when 
distilled with steam, yielded a very small amount of an essential oil. The 
portion of the extract which was soluble in water contained, besides indefinite, 
amorphous substancos, a quantity of sugar, which yielded d-phenylglucosazone 
(m. p. ' 210°). 
The portion of the extract which was insoluble in water consisted chiefly 
of a black resin, and amounted to about 2 7 per cent, of the weight of the root, 
Prom this resin the following definite substances were isolated: hentriaoon- 
tane, C Sl H 64 ; a phytosterol, C, 7 H 46 0, (m. p. 185-180°); a mixture of fatty 
