Du Mez—The Galenical Oleoresins. 
993 
When prepared from the freshly dried and powdered rhizomes 
gathered in the autumn, 1 it usually has an olive-green color 
when spread out in a thin layer on a white porcelain surface. 
A brownish-green color is an indication of the use of old de¬ 
teriorated drug 2 in its preparation, whereas, a deep green color 
suggests adulteration with salts of copper or Chlorophyll. 3 
The nature of the solvent employed in extracting the drug is 
also stated to have an influence on the color of the prepara¬ 
tion, the use of ether (specific gravity 0.720) yielding an oleo- 
resin of a green color, whereas, the color is brownish-green 
when ether (specific gravity 0.728) is employed. 4 
Odor: The odor of the oleoresin is peculiar, like that of 
male fern. 
Taste: The preparation has a bitter, nauseous, subacrid 
taste. 
Consistence: The oleoresin when freshly prepared is homo¬ 
geneous and is of about the same degree of fluidity as castor 
oil. It is variously stated as being of the consistence of syrup, 
fresh honey or an oily extract. 
Solubility: The oleoresin when prepared with ether forms 
clear or slightly cloudy solutions with acetone, ether, chloro¬ 
form and carbon disulphide. 5 It is partially soluble in carbon 
tetrachloride, benzene, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol (95 per 
cent.), glacial acetic acid and petroleum ether. The degree to 
which it is soluble in the last three solvents mentioned has 
been made the basis of tests for the detection of adulteration 
with castor oil. 
According to Hill (1913), not less than 8 volumes of the 
oleoresin should be soluble in 10 volumes of petroleum ether, 
a lesser degree of solubility indicating adulteration. Jehn and 
1 The oleoresin prepared from rhizomes gathered in October is stated by- 
Kruse (1876) to have a more intense green color than that prepared from 
rhizomes gathered in July. 
Caesar and Loretz in their Berichte for 1913 state the condition of the 
season in which the rhizomes are harvested has an influence on their color 
which becomes evident in the oleoresin, e. g. the oleoresin, when prepared 
from the rhizomes gathered in a dry season, is often very dark green in color. 
2 Buchner (1826) found that when the drug was kept in an open container 
for more than a year a brown instead of a green colored oleoresin was ob¬ 
tained. 
3 Wepen and Lueders (1892), Beckurts and Peters (1893) and others. 
4 Bellingrodt. (1898). 
6 This statement holds good only for the freshly prepared oleoresin and 
does not apply when the same contains deposited material. 
03 — S. A. L. 
