^""Mar/ssr™  }         Active  Constituents  of  Fodophyllin,  103 
ment  of  alkalies  in  the  treatment  of  podophyllin,  as  it  was  observed 
that  it  became  less  active  upon  the  animal  organism.  It  is  found, 
however,  that  the  active  principle  of  podophyllin  or  podophyllum  can 
only  be  isolated  by  the  proper  use  of  alkalies,  which  remove  the 
resinous  acid,  without  forming  with  the  active  principle  a  chemical 
compound.  To  the  natural  compound  the  author  gives  the  name  jpodo- 
phyllotoxin.  The  very  active,  crystallizable,  neutral  body  which  may  be 
separated  from  the  latter,  and  which  represents  a  definite  chemical 
body  is  called  picropodophyllin,  while  the  acid  with  which  the  picro- 
podophyllin  is  combined  in  the  rhizome  and  in  podophyllin  to  podo- 
phyllotoxin,  has  received  the  name  of  picropodophyllinic  acid. 
The  independent  existence  of  podophyllotoxin  the  author  considers 
must  be  recognized  as  well  as  that  of  colophony  and  other  resinous 
substances  of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  according  to  its  analogy  with 
abietinic  acid  or  certain  glucosides,  which  are  accompanied  by  other 
substances,  after  the  separation  of  which  the  original  resin  ceases  to 
have  an  independent  existence.  As  an  inactive  constituent  of  podo- 
phyllin there  was  further  obtained  a  crystallizable  substance  in  a 
chemically  pure  form,  which  in  its  properties  is  related  to  quercetin, 
and  which  is  therefore  designated  as  podophylloquercetin.  This  sub- 
stance also  withstands  the  action  of  heat  to  its  melting  point  of  250°C., 
and  to  it  are  due  the  variations  of  color  of  officinal  podophyllin. 
Of  the  results  of  previous  investigations  it  is  confirmed  that  a  body 
insoluble  in  ether  is  contained  in  officinal  podophyllin,  which  is  with- 
out action  on  the  animal  organism,  forming  a  resinous,  amorphous, 
acid  mass,  and  which  bears  no  relation  to  the  active  constituent,  picro- 
podophyllin.  It  is  also  confirmed  that  podophyllin  contains  two 
fatty  substances,  decomposition  products  of  different  extractive  matters, 
inorganic  substances  obtained  from  the  rhizome  in  the  process  of 
manufacture  and  such  as  arise  from  the  employment  of  alum  in  preci- 
pitation for  the  purpose  of  imparting  a  yellow  color  to  the  product. 
Picropodophyllin, — Colorless,  silk-like,  extremely  delicate  crystals, 
which  upon  drying  aggregate  to  felt-like,  shining,  silky  masses.  They 
are  very  readily  soluble  in  chloroform,  and  readily  soluble  in  90  to  95 
per  cent,  alcohol,  but  difficultly  soluble  in  85  per  cent,  alcohol.  Picro- 
podophyllin is  so  slightly  soluble  in  50  or  even  75  or  80  per  cent, 
alcohol  that  this  can  be  employed  for  washing  the  crystals  to  remove 
adhering  extractive  matters  and  the  calcium  or  barium  compounds  of 
the  picropodophyllinic  acid.    Picropodophyllin  is  also  soluble  in  ether, 
