Du Mez—The Galenical Oleoresins. 
1013 
Table 29. —Crude filicin content of laboratory samples of the oleoresin 
determined by Fromme's method. 
Sample 
No. 
Date 
Observer 
Solvent 
! Crude 
| filicin 
1 
T 
1898 
Ether... 
Per cent 
18.20 
9 
18.96 
a 
19.82 
i 
20.38 
5 
20.87 
r 
21.76 
7 
U 
»* 
** 
21.85 
s 
24.32 
1 
1899 
Caesar & Loretz,.. 
31.44* 
t 
27.48 2 
1 
1913 
nnViriseh. 
“ 
18.22 
1 
PliMp.z . 
Acetone...... 
13.79 
2 
Ether.... 
20.37 
1 
M 
TTfl.T'risnn Sr. Sftlf. 
19.30 
? 
19.70 
21.50 
a 
4 
21.90 
a 
*• 
24.10 
r 
44 
24.20 
7 
4* 
44 
24 50 
ft 
24.70 
Q 
•* 
44 
26.50 
10 
“ 
27.70 
11 
44 
28.0 
1 . 
1914 
Linke. 
it 
19.30 
2 
me 
DuMez."... 
Acetone.. 
16.00 s 
2 . 
Ether. 
16.27 s 
3 Ether, specific gravity 0.720. 
2 Ether, specific gravity 0.728. 
3 Oleoresins which were prepared in 1910 and had deteriorated. Exam¬ 
ined shortly after being prepared, the ethereal oleoresin showed a crude 
filicin content of 26.35 per cent. 
From the foregoing, it is apparent that the crued filicin 
content is influenced 1 by the age of the oleoresin as well as by 
the solvent which has been employed in its preparation. In the 
case of acetone, the low results obtained are not due to the in¬ 
complete extraction of the constituents to be determined, as 
might be inferred, but rather to the relatively large amount of 
total extractive matter obtained. It will be noticed that when 
the oleoresin is fresh and ether is the solvent which has been 
used in its preparation, the crude filicin content (is usually 
above 20 per cent. This is in accordance with the require¬ 
ments of the British Pharmacopoeia and is thought to be a more 
reasonable standard than that adpoted by the Swiss, or the 
Finnish pharmacopoeias. The former requires a filicin content 
of 26 to 28 per cent, while the latter specifies a minimum con¬ 
tent of 26 per cent. This statement is further supported by 
the results obtained in the examination of commercial samples 
as is shown in the following compilation of such data: 
1 For the effect of the condition of the rhizomes used on the crude filicin 
content, see under “Drug used, its collection, preservation, etc.” 
