Am"oc°tu(ri8?Sarrn"}  Xanthoxylon  Senegalense.  503 
resembles  berberine  in  its  reactions.  It  differs  from  berberine  in 
being  colorless,  uncrystallizable,  and  in  the  solubility,  melting 
points,  and  crystalline  character  of  its  salts.  It  also  dissolves  in 
sulphuric  acid  without  any  discoloration,  and  is  colored  blood-red 
by  the  action  of  potassium  nitrate  and  concentrated  sulphuric  acid. 
The  hydrochloride  acquires  by  the  action  of  chlorine  water  at  most 
a  yellowish  tinge  which  is  dissipated  on  addition  of  ammonia.  The 
double  iodides  of  potassium  and  mercury  or  cadmium  give  yellowish, 
flocculent  precipitates,  and  the  iodide  of  potassium  and  bismuth 
gives  a  similar  red  precipitate,  all  of  which  are  insoluble  in  excess  of 
the  reagent ;  phosphantimonic  acid  only  occasions  a  slight  turbidity 
which  disappears  in  excess.  If  the  formula  C21H23N04  is  adopted 
for  artarine,  its  constitution  is  probably  that  of  a  methylhydro- 
berberine. 
The  red  alkaloid,  previously  obtained  from  a  specimen  of  the 
bark,  crystallizes  in  blood-red  needles  readily  soluble  in  water,  and 
forms  yellow  salts  when  heated  with  acids ;  the  hydrochloride  melts 
at  1700,  the  sulphate  at  2650,  and  the  platinochloride  at  2900.  Be- 
sides these  alkaloids,  the  authors  previously  isolated  from  the  light 
petroleum  extract  of  the  bark  a  neutral,  crystalline  substance  which 
is  either  identical  with  cubebin  (C10H10O3)  or  has  the  formula 
CuHu04.  This  substance  crystallizes  in  transparent,  colorless 
prisms  which  melt  at  1230,  and  dissolve  readily  in  warm  ether, 
chloroform,  alcohol,  and  light  petroleum,  but  are  insoluble  in  water. 
Like  cubebin,  it  is  colored  dark-red  by  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  ; 
on  the  other  hand  neither  acetic  nor  pyrocatechuic  acid  was  detec- 
ted among  the  products  of  its  fusion  with  potash.  It  is  first  colored 
wine-red  by  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  and  then  dissolved ;  in  the 
presence  of  potassium  chromate,  it  acquires  a  dull  violet  color;  it  is 
not  affected  by  potash  or  ammonia,  even  on  heating.  A  mixture  of 
sulphuric  acid  (4  vols.)  and  water  (1  vol.)  colors  the  crystals  red  and 
partially  dissolves  them  in  the  cold  ;  on  gently  warming,  the  liquid 
becomes  violet,  and  the  crystals  are  charred.  If  sulphuric  acid  is 
added  to  the  chloroform  solution  of  the  substance,  an  intense  pur- 
ple red  coloration  is  produced  at  the  points  of  junction  of  the  two 
liquids. 
A  neutral  nitrogenous  substance  of  unknown  composition  has  also 
been  isolated  ;  it  forms  pale-yellow  crystals  melting  at  1700,  and  its 
alcoholic  solution  is  colored  bright-green  by  ferric  chloride. 
