N. 0. CONIFER®. 
1231 
as a remedy for indigestion and epilepsy and as an aphrodisiac. 
(Irvine.) The bark is used by Kunawaris as a substitute for tea 
(Kanjilal.) 
The palp of the ripe fruit is non*poisonous ; the kernel contains the taxin. 
This substance is prepared from its satd. solu. in very dil. Na Cl soln., by 
Na Cl. NR,, NaOH, phospho-tungstic acid, pliospho-molybdic acid, potassium 
mercuric iodide, Kl,. Esbach’s reagent, Au Cl, and (NR 4 ) 2 S0 4 . With coned. 
H,S0 4 , it gives a red color, and with Killiani's reagent a red ring ; KMn 0 4 
is decolorized in both acid and neutral soln. In CHCI 3 with a layer of coned. 
R 2 S0 4 , a brown ring is formed. The unripe fruit is, perhaps, more poisonous 
than the ripe. Taxin is not toxic to fish. Rabbits, guinea pigs, and cats, 
if the dosage is cautiously increased, can stand many times the lethal doses 
subcutaneously without harm. These animals thus become comparatively 
immune to this poison very quickly. Game and cud-chewing domestio 
animals stand moderate amts, of yew needles without harm ; horses and other 
solipeds, though more susceptible, likewise soon easily accustom themselves 
to taxin. It may be extracted from the wine, into which it passes unchanged, 
by Et,0, after adding Na 2 CO,. The action of taxin consists in motor excitation 
of the central nerve system, followed by paralysis. (Cliem. Abst., Sept. 
10, 1915, p. 2408.) 
The alkaloid, taxine, was obtained from the green leaves and the air-dried 
leaves. Its formula is C, 7 H S 2 O lo N. 
The physiological action of taxine was examined in 1876 by Borchero, who 
states that, when administered to frogs, rabbits, cats and dogs, it depresses 
the action of the heart and interferes with the respiratory functions, and th at 
death ensues from suffocation in a short time. It has been asserted, however, 
that taxine has no action on guinea pigs. Further experiments are required 
to establish definitely whether the alkaloid is actually poisonousrand if so, 
how it acts, and whether, as alleged, certain animals are immune to it. 
(Thorpe & Stubbs, J. Ch. S. 1902, p. 880.) 
Autumn-gathered leaves of male and female trees have been investigated. 
The alkaioid was extracted by digesting the powdered air-dried leaves with 
1 per cent. Sulphuric acid for five or six days. The acid liquid was strained and 
pressed from the leaves, and at once, without concentration, rendered alkaline 
and extracted with ether. Taxine was obtained in the form of very fine 
glistering particles by crushing down the residue from the ether extract. 
It gives precipitate with most of the alkaloidal reagents, and colour reactions 
with strong sulphuric acid alone, and when this reagent is mixed with nitric 
acid, molybdic acid, or chromic acid. (Y. E. Thorpe & G. Stubbs Proc. Ch. S. 
for 1902, p. 123.) 
1219. Pinns longifolia, Roxb., h.f.b.i., v. 652 ; 
Roxb. 677. 
Snvs. : — Sarala, oleo-resin = sarala drava, sricasa, kshira. 
Vern. : — Salla, saral, cliir, chil, oleo-resin = ganda-biroza, 
cliir-kft-gond (Hind.); DhGp, sala, dhflp, aula, oleo-resin= dhup, 
