Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1884. 
Glycyrrhiza  Extracts. 
311 
EXAMINATION  OF  GLYCYRRHIZA  EXTRACTS. 
By  Luther  J.  Schroeder,  Ph.G. 
Abstract  from  an  Inaugural  Essay. 
The  author  procured  eight  samples  of  liquorice,  comprisiug  the 
most  prominent  brands  of  foreign  manufacture  as  well  as  several  of 
American  make.  The  examination  was  confined  to  the  determination 
of  matter  insoluble  in  cold  water,  of  glycyrrhizin  soluble  in  water  and 
of  glycyrrhizin  soluble  in  ammonia.  500  grains  of  (air-dry  ?)  extract 
of  glycyrrhiza  were  macerated  in  12  fluidounces  of  cold  water  for 
24  hours,  the  mixture  was  transferred  to  a  filter,  and  the  insoluble 
matter  well  washed  until  the  filtrate  passed  colorless,  dried  (at 
what  temperature?)  and  weighed.  The  residue  of  No.  1  was 
lightest  in  color  and  very  smooth ;  5  and  6  were  somewhat  darker 
and  the  others  were  much  darker  and  gritty.  The  filtrates  (diluted 
to  a  uniform  amount?)  likewise  varied  much  in  color  and  taste, 
those  from  1,  5  and  6  being  dark  colored  and  of  a  fine  flavor,  and 
the  remainder  lighter  colored  and  less  pleasant ;  that  from  8  had  a 
peculiar  acrid  taste.  These  filtrates  (without  further  concentration?) 
were  precipitated  with  diluted  sulphuric  acid,  the  precipitates  collected 
upon  a  filter,  washed  with  acidulated  water,  redissolved  in  ammonia 
and  reprecipitated  by  sulphuric  acid,  this  operation  being  repeated  seve- 
ral times ;  the  precipitate  was  finally  washed  and  dried. 
The  portion  insoluble  in  cold  water  was  treated  with  diluted 
ammonia,  the  filtrate  precipitated  by  diluted  acid,  and  the  precipitate 
purified  by  redissolving  and  reprecipitating  several  times,  taking  care 
to  frequently  filter  to  take  out  impurities  (?).  The  results  are  tabulated 
as  follows,  500  grains  being  used  in  each  case : 
Residue. 
Glycyrrhizin. 
Brand. 
Weight. 
Per  cent. 
Soluble. 
Insoluble. 
Total. 
1.  M.  &  R. 
Grains. 
180 
36 
38 
5 
Grains. 
43 
2.  Y.  &  S. 
174 
34-8 
30 
10 
40 
3,  Dean. 
239 
47-8 
8 
5 
13 
4.  Royal. 
274 
54-8 
6 
3 
9 
5.  Corigliano 
150 
30 
15 
15 
30 
6.  Guzzolini. 
132 
26-4 
10 
7 
17 
7.  P.  <fe  S. 
125 
25 
10 
11 
21 
8.  S.  C. 
130 
26 
13 
13 
