1168 
INDIAN MEDICINAI, PI.ANTS. 
Kamala was first analysed by Or. Thomas Anderson of Glasgow in 1855 who 
found the following constituents in 100 parts:— 78 - 10 of resinous colouring 
matter, 7'34 of albumen, 7* 14 of cellulose, a trace of volatile oil, 8‘84 of ashes, 
and 3‘49 of water. Of the resinous colouring matters Dr. Anderson obtained 
one in a pure state by allowing a concentrated ethereal solution to stand for 
two days, drying and pressing in bibulous paper the resulting mass of 
granular crystals, and purifying them from adhering resin by repeated solu- 
tion in ether and crystallisation. To this substance he gave the name of 
Rottlerin. It occurs in crystalline plates of a yellow colour insoluble in 
water, but soluble in alcohol, ether and alkaline solutions. The formula was 
Cu ^3* 
E. G. Leube, Jr. (Jahresbericht, I860, 562 1 , however, was unable to obtain 
any crystalline product, but he describes a resin melting at 80°, having the 
formula C 1S H ia 0 4 , and a resin melting at 191°, of the formula C a H„ O s . 
Oettingen of Russia, in 1882, was unable to obtain any crystalline substance 
from kamala. 
A. G. Perkin and W. H Perkin, Jr., in 1886 made a preliminary examlnaticn 
of kamala and separated by means of carbon bisulphide a yellow crystalline 
body Mallotoxin. On pursuing the investigation, Mr. A. G. Perkin contribut- 
ed a full account of the constituents in Journ. Chem. Soc. LXIII. (1893), 
pages 975-90. Rottlerin, the principal constituent, crystallises in salmon- 
coloured plates melting at 19l-191'5°. When heated with caustic potash it 
yields benzoic acid, acetic acid and an amorphous substance. A resin of low 
melting point with the formula C 12 H 12 O a and closely associated with 
Rottlerin in many of its properties. When boiled with dilute alkalis the 
odour of benzaldehyde is noticeable. 
A yellow crystalline colouring matter present in minute amount melting at 
192-193°. 
A wax, having a composition agreeing with the formula C 1B H S4 0 2 , and 
melting at 82°, the melting point of cetylic cerotinate. 
The residue loft on extracting kamala with carbon bisulphide contains two 
substances isorottlcrin and a resin of’ higher melting point both soluble in 
ether. 
Isorottlorin crystallises in groups of minute plates melting at 198-199°. It 
differs from rottlerin by being practically insoluble in carbon bisulphide, 
chloroform and benzene. 
The rasin of high melting point is a pale yellow amorphous subtance of the 
formula C, a H,, 0 4 . 
In a subsequent paper on the chemistry of kamala [Jouru. Chem. Soc. 
LXVII (1895), 230], Perkin continued the study of Rottlerin, the principal 
crystalline constituent, and showed the action upon it of nitric acid and 
sodium carbonate, the former yielding ortho and para-nitrocinnamic acids 
and the latter rottlerone. The yellow crystalline colouring matter contained 
more hydrogen than Rottlerin and is probably a reduction product of this 
body. The name homo-rottlerin was given to it. 
In a further note on Rottlerin (Journ. Chem. Soc. 1899. LXXV., page 827) 
Perkin deduced from analyses of its mono-substituied salts the formula C 3S 
