JUN  i 
THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY 
JUNE,  i897. 
V  THE  ROOT  OF  PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 
A  Contribution  to  the  Knowledge  of  its  Chemical  Constituents. 
PART  II. 
By  George  B.  Frankforter  and  Francis  Ramai^ey. 
This  plant  was  recorded  as  emetic  by  Griffith,1  in  1833,  and  as 
cathartic  by  Allen2  the  following  year.  The  latter  writer  remarks 
that  it  is  difficult  to  administer  without  producing  emesis,  and  that 
large  doses  are  followed  by  narcotic  symptoms. 
The  earliest  record  of  chemical  investigation,  found  by  the  writers, 
that  would  seem  to  be  of  present  interest,  is  by  C.  Reichel.3  He 
studied  the  pharmacology,  therapeutical  properties  and  chemical 
composition  of  the  root  of  Phytolacca  drastica,  a  Chilean  species, 
but  related  to  our  own.  Of  organic  substances  there  were  found : 
resin,  wax,  coloring  matter,  proteids  and  malates. 
E.  Donelly,4  in  1844,  published  an  analysis  of  Phytolacca 
decandra.  This  is  interesting  because  it  is  the  first  analysis  of 
which  any  record  could  be  found.  The  following  is  a  summary  of 
the  results : 
1  Griffith,  R.  E.  On  the  Vegetable  Emetics  of  the  United  States.  Jour. 
Phixa.  Colx.  of  Pharm.,  4,  276,  1833. 
2 Allen,  John  C.  Remarks  on  the  Vegetable  Cathartics  of  the  United  States. 
Jour.  Phii,a.  Coix.  of  Pharm.,  5,  205,  1834. 
*  Reichel,  C.    Phytolacca  Drastica.    Chem.  CentrbL,  681,  1836. 
''Donelly,  E.    On  Phytolacca  Decandra.  Am.  Jour.  Pharm.,  9,  165,  1844, 
(281) 
