-A,m.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Dec.  1888. 
Hydrastine  and  Derivatives. 
633 
solution  was  bitter,  and  yielded  a  precipitate  with  alkaline  carbonates 
and  hydrates,  phosphomolybdic,  and  picric  acids,  potassio-mercuric 
iodide,  chloride  of  gold  and  perchloride  of  platinum.  This  principle 
had  therefore  the  properties  of  an  alkaloid. 
Ether  solution  B. — On  evaporating  the  ether  solution  B,  a  dark 
reddish  bitter  extract  was  obtained,  soluble  in  alkaline  solutions,  and 
re-precipitated  in  yellowish  flocks  by  dilute  acids.  It  had  the  prop- 
erties of  an  acid  resin. 
Precipitate  O. — The  precipitate  was  well  washed,  and  dissolved  in 
alcohol ;  on  evaporation  a  brittle  darkish  residue  was  obtained,  solu- 
ble in  alkaline  solutions,  reprecipitated  in  yellowish  flocks  by  acids, 
soluble  with  very  great  difliculty  in  ether,  easily  soluble  in  chloro- 
form.   This  principle  thus  also  had  the  properties  of  an  acid  resin. 
In  addition  to  the  principles  above  described  as  being  present  in 
the  oil,  an  examination  of  the  cake  left  after  expression  of  the  oil,  in- 
dicated the  presence  of  another  neutral  principle,  insoluble  in  ether  or 
alkaline  solutions,  but  dissolving  in  chloroform. 
Medical  College,  Calcutta. 
— Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  October  27,  1888,  p.  325. 
HYDRASTINE  AND  DERIVATIVES.^ 
By  E.  Schmidt  and  F.  Wiliielm. 
Hydrastine.  By  Wilhelm. — The  extract  obtained  by  treating  the 
coarsely  powdered  root  of  Hydrastis  canadensis  with  water  acidified 
with  acetic  acid  at  100°,  is  evaporated  to  a  syrup  and  excess  of  dilute 
sulphuric  acid  added,  when  berberine  sulphate  separates.  The  fil- 
trate neutralized  with  ammonia  gives  a  precipitate  containing  much 
hydrastine;  this  is  separated,  and  on  adding  ammonia  in  excess  to  the 
filtrate  a  further  precipitate  is  produced,  which  contains  canadine.  Both 
precipitates,  boiled  with  ethyl  acetate,  give  solutions  which  on  cooling 
deposit  hydrastine  in  large  crystals,  somewhat  colored,  but  rendered 
pure  by  recrystallization.  The  crystals  from  the  second  ammonia  precip- 
itate are  much  purer  than  those  from  the  first ;  by  slow  evaporation  of 
the  ethyl  acetate  solution  they  can  be  obtained  as  large  as  walnuts. 
^  Arch.  Phar.  [3],  xxvi.,  329-365;  reprinted  from  Jour.  Chem.  Soc,  Nov.,  p« 
1212. 
