Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Jan.,  1893. 
Podophyllum  Emodi. 
25 
preparation  of  podophyllum  resin,  found  to  be  equivalent  to  10  or 
12  per  cent. 
The  constituents  of  the  resin  have  been  examined  by  F.  A. 
Thompson  {American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  vol.  lxii,  p.  245),  who 
states  that  it  contains  more  podophyllotoxin,  to  the  extent  of  at 
least  25  per  cent.,  than  the  resin  of  P.  peltatum  ;  and  one  would  there- 
fore expect  it  to  be  proportionately  more  active  physiologically.  As 
such  did  not  appear  to  be  the  case  on  trial  in  several  instances,  it 
seemed  desirable  to  make  an  extended  examination  of  its  constitu- 
ents, following,  if  possible,  the  lines  adopted  by  Podwissotzki  in  his 
examination  of  the  resin  of  P.  peltatum. 
The  recent  suggestion  of  Professor  Attfield,  in  his  "Pharmacopoeia" 
revision  report,  that,  subject  to  confirmation,  this  species  should  be 
included  for  the  preparation  of  the  resin  in  future  editions  of  that 
work  has  made  this  detailed  comparison  of  more  importance. 
The  results  of  Podwissotzki's  work  on  the  resin  of  P.  peltatum 
may  be  briefly  summarized,  thus ; 
The  physiologically  active  portion  of  podophyllum  resin  consists 
of  podophyllotoxin,  which  is  composed  of  picropodophyllin,  held  in 
solution  by  picropodophyllic  acid. 
Picropodophyllin  is  a  neutral  crystalline  principle,  which,  though 
the  sole  active  ingredient  of  the  resin,  is  inactive  in  its  free  state t 
owing  to  its  insolubility,  but  in  combination  with,  or  more  probably 
solution  in,  picropodophyllic  acid,  is  extremely  active.  The  resin 
also  contains  an  inactive  acid — podophyllic  acid,  a  yellow  coloring 
matter — podophylloquercetin  and  fatty  matter. 
Extraction  of  the  Resin. — The  powdered  rhizome  was  treated 
exactly  in  the  manner  described  in  the  official  process  for  the  prepa- 
ration of  podophyllin  resin,  and  was  found  to  yield  1 1-4  per  cent,  of 
a  pale  lemon-yellow  resin. 
The  solution  from  which  the  resin  had  been  precipitated  was 
markedly  sweet  in  taste,  and  reduced  Fehling's  solution  powerfully 
without  inversion.  It  was  found  after  concentration  to  possess  no 
purgative  action  whatever,  and  was  not  further  examined. 
Separation  of  Constituents  of  Resin — Podophyllotoxin. — Ten 
grammes  of  the  crude  resin  were  exhausted  by  dry  chloroform,  free 
from  alcohol,  the  bulk  of  the  chloroform  removed  by  distillation, 
and  the  residue  poured  into  a  large  quantity  of  dry  ether.  The 
portion  insoluble  in  ether  was  at  first  pasty,  but  afterwards  became 
