240 
Resin  from  Populus  Tremuloides. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  1889. 
KESIN  FROM  FLO  WEE  BUDS  OF  POPULUS  TREMU- 
LOIDES. 
By  Robert  Glenk. 
On  macerating  the  coarsely-cut  fresh  buds  with  alcohol,  a  dark 
amber- colored  tincture  was  obtained,  which  on  concentration  by  evap- 
oration and  pouring  into  water  precipitated  a  yellowish  brown  resin 
with  a  strong  hop-like  odor,  and  melting  at  51  °C. 
It  is  soluble  in  glacial  acetic  acid,  acetic  ether  and  amyl  alcohol ; 
only  slightly  soluble  in  chloroform,  ether,  carbon  disulphide,  turpen- 
tine and  benzol. 
In  alcoholic  solution  it  has  an  acid  reaction.  On  adding  1  drop 
of  tincture  of  chloride  of  iron  to  3  cc.  of  an  alcoholic  solution  (1-50),  a 
dark  green  color  is  produced,  and  the  addition  of  a  solution  of  chlorin- 
ated soda  to  the  alcoholic  solution  produces  a  jet  black  color.  It  is 
completely  soluble  in  KOH,  5  per  cent.,  to  a  brown  red  solution,  and 
is  reprecipitated  on  the  addition  of  an  excess  of  acid.  On  oxidizing 
the  solution  in  2  per  cent,  caustic  potash  a  peculiar  play  of  colors  was 
noticed  from  an  emerald  to  a  dark  green,  then  to  violet,  and  after  five 
minutes  to  a  deep  carmine  red,  with  a  distinct  odor  of  oil  of  bitter 
almonds,  (due  probably  to  cinnamic  acid  or  some  anthracene  deri- 
vatives). 
The  resin  is  not  entirely  soluble  in  an  excess  of  water  of  ammonia 
even  on  warming ;  on  filtering  and  evaporating  the  filtrate,  part  of  the 
resin  is  reprecipitated,  while  a  portion  remains  soluble  in  water,  and 
on  addition  of  a  neutral  solution  of  ferric  chloride  to  the  aqueous 
solution  a  brown  precipitate  is  produced  which  on  addition  of  dilute 
hydrochloric  acid  is  changed  to  a  light  yellow  color. 
On  adding  to  1  grain  of  the  powdered  resin  1  cc.  of  fuming  nitric 
acid,  a  dark  green  solution  is  formed,  afterward  changing  to  dark 
brown,  reprecipitated  on  adding  water.  With  H2S04  specific  gravi- 
ty, 1.82,  a  dark  red  solution  is  formed  which  is  precipitated  on  adding 
water.  With  HC1  specific  gravity,  1.160,  no  change;  and  with  a 
solution  of  bromine  in  chloroform  (1-20)  no  change  was  observed. 
Heated  on  platinum  foil  the  resin  burns  and  leaves  but  a  minute 
residue  of  Na2C03. 
Picrotoxin  is  recommended  as  an  antidote  for  morphine  by  Prof.  A. 
Bokai  (Internat.  Klin.  Rndsch.  Jan.,  1889).  It  is  a  powerful  stimulant  to  the 
vaso-motor  centre,  and  may  reduce  the  danger  of  asphyxia  in  chloroform 
narcosis  if  a  small  dose  be  previously  administered. 
