476 
Buchu  and  Oil  of  Buchu. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Oct.,  1886. 
Extraction  of  Volatile  Oil. — The  leaves  in  a  finely  powdered  state, 
were  distilled  until  no  more  oil  passed  over.  The  oil  was  lighter  than 
water  and  left,  while  floating  upon  the  surface  of  the  liquid,  prismatic 
crystals.  The  aqueous  distillate  contained  a  feeble  acid,  whose  chemical 
nature  together  with  that  of  the  residual,  strongly  acid,  brown  liquid 
remaining  in  the  retort,  will  be  further  examined.  In  order  to  obtain 
a  larger  quantity  of  the  volatile  oil,  the  process  of  extraction  was  modi- 
fied and  repeated  upon  more  material.  The  powdered  leaves  were 
macerated  with  ether  for  three  days,  when  the  liquid  became  green  in 
color  from  dissolved  chlorophyll.  The  larger  quantity  of  ether  was 
then  distilled  off,  while  the  balance  was  evaporated,  spontaneously,  and 
the  oily  residue  distilled  with  steam,  until  no  further  oil  passed  over. 
Every  1000  parts  of  leaves  yielded  about  6*5  parts  of  a  greenish  yel- 
low oil,  having  a  grateful  odor,  similar  to  peppermint  and  bergamot, 
and  lighter  than  water.  Separated  from  the  water  and  desiccated  over 
fused  calcium  chloride,  a  portion  was  fractionally  distilled.  The  greater 
part  passed  over  between  from  200°  to  235°  C,  and  the  last  portions 
were  manifestly  decomposed  and  gave  a  different  and  rather  more 
phenol-like  odor  than  the  first.  In  order  to  ascertain  if  the  first  frac- 
tions contained  substances  soluble  in  potassium  hydrate,  a  small  quan- 
tity of  the  mixed  fractions  was  agitated  with  K  H  O,  in  strong  solution, 
after  which  separation  into  two  parts  took  place.  Using  a  second 
quantity,  with  a  more  dilute  solution  of  KHO,  it  became  evident 
that  the  KHO  solution  was  not  as  sensibly  colored,  as  in  the 
first  instance.  The  insoluble  part  (elseopten)  was  then  separated,  washed 
with  water  and  desiccated  over  fused  calcium  chloride,  while  the  aque- 
ous washings  were  added  to  the  KHO  solution  and  the  remaining 
elseopton  was  removed  by  agitation  with  ether.  The  alkaline  solution 
was  then  treated  with  hydrochloric  acid  until  slightly  acid,  when  a 
precipitate  formed  which,  after  several  minutes,  assumed  a  crystalline 
aspect.  The  supernatant  liquid  was  removed  and  the  residue  agitated 
with  ether,  the  ethereal  solution  evaporated  at  a  low  temperature,  when 
the  stearopten  crystallized  in  the  form  of  long,  flat  needles,  slightly 
impure  from  adhering  brown  oil. 
Examination  of  the  Elceopten  (Diosmelceopten). — It  is  a  greenish 
in  a  similar  manner  to  oil  of  wintergreen,  when  that  liquid  is  treated  with  the 
same  reagents.  Further,  it  is  shown,  that  only  in  neutral  solution,  does  the 
stearopten  possess  its  characteristic  mint-like  odor,  and  any  change  in  this 
characteristic,  must  necessarily  indicate  some  change  in  chemical  composition. 
