ono         Extraction  of  Hydrastine  and  Berberine.  {Am.  jour.  Pharm. 
~  / "  ■       •  <■      May,  1919. 
being  passed  through  a  filter,  and  then  twice  with  the  same  solution 
on  the  filter.  The  filtrate  and  washings  are  extracted  three  times 
with  20  Cc.  of  ether,  the  ethereal  solution  filtered  through  cotton- 
wool, evaporated,  the  residue  dried  at  95°-9S°  and  weighed. 
2.  Berberine. — The  ground  golden  seal  from  which  the  hydra- 
stine has  been  removed  is  dried  or  drained  free  from  the  benzol.  It 
is  then  saturated  with  water  (hot)  acidulated  with  acetic  acid  and 
macerated  for  a  few  hours.  Percolation  is  started  and  the  percolate 
received  in  a  vessel  containing  a  small  amount  of  concentrated 
hydrochloric  acid.  Berberine  hydrochloride  will  form  immediately 
and  can  be  filtered  out.  The  berberine  hydrochloride  thus  obtained 
is  rather  pure.  The  first  percolate  might  contain  traces  of  hydra- 
zine. Traces  of  free  chlorine  can  be  removed  by  washing  the 
precipitate  on  the  filter  with  a  small  quantity  of  water  containing 
only  a  very  small  amount  of  hydrochloric  acid. 
Properties. — Berberine,  or  its  salts,  have  a  persistent  bitter  taste, 
and  are  employed  medicinally  in  doses  of  2  to  5  grains.  Sixty  Grs. 
have  been  taken  by  man  without  injury  but  the  alkaloid  is  poisonous 
to  dogs,  etc.  It  dissolves  in  4.5  parts  of  water  giving  a  yellow  solu- 
tion neutral  to  litmus.  It  is  easily  soluble  in  hot  water  and  alcohol 
and  dissolves  in  100  parts  of  dilute  alcohol  (Proctor),  is  slightly 
soluble  in  chloroform  and  benzene,  insoluble  in  ether  (separation 
from  hydrastine)  and  petroleum  spirit.  According  to  E.  Schmidt1 
berberine  has  a  remarkable  tendency  to  combine  with  neutral  sol- 
vents, such  as,  alcohol,  ether,  acetone  and  chloroform  to  form 
crystalline  compounds.  When  berberine  and  chloroform  are  mixed 
in  molecular  proportions  they  unite  to  form  a  beautiful  crystalline 
substance,  permanent  at  ioo°.  This  does  not  appear  to  be  a  mere 
additive  product  since  it  is  not  decomposed  by  acids  simply  into 
berberine  and  chloroform,  but  yields  decomposition  products  of  the 
latter.  Berberine  can  also  combine  with  a  second  molecule  of 
chloroform  but  this  behaves  like  water  of  crystallization.  Schmidt 
has  also  described  a  compound  of  berberine  with  acetone  of  the 
formula  C20H17O4N,  C,H0O. 
Uses. — Berberine,  or  its  salts,  is  an  excellent  tonic  and  has 
slightly  laxative  properties.  If  administered  with  hydrastine  it  will 
eliminate  indigestion  caused  by  the  white  alkaloid,  and  being  a  tonic, 
will  add  to  the  value  of  hydrastine.  It  will  be  found  to  exert  an 
efficient  action  upon  all  abnormal  mucous  tissues  and  can  be  used 
1  Pharm.  Zeit,  1887.  32.  542. 
