Du Mez—The Galenical Oleoresins. 
1085 
Special Quantitative Tests. 
While the matter of determining the quality of the unadulter¬ 
ated product has apparently received but little attention, two 
distinct methods have, nevertheless, been made use of in its 
evaluation. They are the methods of Garnett and Grier for the 
determination of the gingerol content, and the physiological test 
employed by the H. K. Mulford Company. 
Methods for the Estimation of the Gingerol Content. 
The only method of an analytical nature which has been sug¬ 
gested for the quantitative evaluation of this oleoresin is based 
on the fact that the pungent principles, gingerol, are more 
readily soluble in 60 per cent alcohol, than in petroleum ether. 
A description of the manner in which this assay is carried out 
follows. 
Method of Garnett and Grier (1909): Dissolve the gingerol by boiling 
about 1 gram of the oleoresin with several portions of petroleum ether, 
filter the solutions thus obtained and remove the solvent bj evaporation 
on a water bath. Dissolve the residue in alcohol (60 per cent.) added in 
three separate portions, shake the united alcoholic solutions with a small 
amount of petroleum ether to remove traces of fat and remove the alcohol 
from the hydro-alcoholic portion by evaporation. Shake the residual liquid 
with 3 portions of ether added successively, filter the combined shakings 
into a tared flask, remove the ether by evaporation on a water bath, dry 
at 100°C and weigh. In the final shaking out, carbon disulphide or chloro¬ 
form may be used in place of the ether. 
The use of this method in the laboratory has shown that it 
gives fairly constant results, and, as it is easily carried out, it 
should prove to be of practical value. The results obtained in 
the examination of oleoresins prepared in the laboratory and 
those obtained from commercial sources are given in the fol¬ 
lowing tables: 
Table 89 — Gingerol content of oleoresins prepared in the laboratory. 
Sample 
No. 
1 
Date 
Observer 
Solvent 
Gingerol 
content 
1. 
1916 
DuMez..... 
Alcohol.... 
Per cent. 
27.2 
2. 
Acetone... 
23.2 
g. 
“ 
64 
Ether. 
27.5 
4. 
“ 
Petrol, ether... 
43.9 
