THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY 
APRIL,  1894.  Z^'*318-*^ 
JP"  9  '* 
SOLNINE.1  ^W^/*/ 
J.  U.  Lloyd. 
Generalities. — Botanical  relationships  are  often  accompanied  by 
similarly  constituted  proximate  constituents.  Thus,  the  roots  of 
the  several  species  of  trilliums  are  astringent  and  very  close  in 
physical  appearances  and  in  character  chemically.  The  Berberi- 
daceae,  as  a  rule,  contain  the  alkaloids,  berberine  and  also  a  white 
alkaloid  that  is  invariably  associated  therewith.2  The  cinchonas 
contain  several  alkaloids,  all  bitter,  that  are  in  turn  closely  related. 
The  arums  contain  acrid  principles  familiar  in  the  acridity  of  Indian 
Turnip.  The  Rhamnii  contain  similar  classes  of  extractive  and 
resinous  materials  and  the  barks  of  the  different  species  are,  as  a 
rule,  laxative.  It  does  not  follow,  however,  that  exceptions  cannot 
occur,  even  in  close  botanical  affiliations,  for  here  and  there  plants 
closely  related  differ  markedly  from  other  members  of  a  family. 
Notwithstanding  these  exceptions,  it  may  be  said,  however,  that 
systematic  investigation  in  plant  constituents  is  no  longer  impossi- 
ble, and  that  as  a  rule  botanists,  chemists  and  pharmacists  can  work 
together  understanding^,  each  in  his  proper  field  and  each  aiding 
and  in  turn  leaning  on  the  others. 
1  Read  at  the  December  Meeting  of  the  Cincinnati  Section  of  the  American 
Chemical  Society. 
2  This  white  alkaloid  has  been  named  hydrastine  when  obtained  from 
Hydrastis,  Oxycanthine  when  obtained  from  Berberis  vulgaris,  unnamed  when 
obtained  from  Berberis  aquifolium,  Coptine  when  obtained  from  Coptis  trifo- 
lium.  The  relationships  that  the  white  alkaloids,  as  derived  from  the  various 
sources,  bear  to  berberine,  have  never  been  determined. 
(161) 
