452 
Megarrhiza  Californica. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm, 
\       Oct.,  1876. 
etherial  tincture  had  a  lemon-yellow  color,  and  left,  on  evaporation,  a 
a  yellowish-brown  residue,  which  possessed  the  characteristic  odor  of 
the  root,  a  slight  bitter  taste,  was  brittle  and  had  an  acid  reaction. 
To  determine  the  nature  of  the  free  acid,  the  residue  was  treated 
with  a  weak  solution  of  sodic  carbonate  and  filtered  from  the  insoluble 
portion.  To  the  filtrate  a  sufficient  quantity  of  tartaric  acid  was  added, 
when  whitish,  oily  globules  were  observed  on  the  surface  of  the  liquid. 
These  had  an  acid  reaction,  possessed  a  disagreeable  odor,  and  gave  to 
paper  a  stain  unaffected  by  heat ;  the  author  names  it  megarrhizic  acid,. 
The  portion  insoluble  in  sodic  carbonate  was  treated  with  a  solution  of 
caustic  potash  in  order  to  effect  the  saponification  of  the  fatty  matter, 
and  the  insoluble  resinous  substance  was  removed  by  a  filter,  washed, 
dried  and  reserved  to  be  examined  subsequently.  To  the  solution  of 
soap  obtained  was  added  a  sufficient  quantity  of  tartaric  acid  to  decom- 
pose it.  Ether  was  now  added,  and  the  mixture  agitated.  After  a 
few  hours  the  supernatant  etherial  liquid  was  removed  and  allowed  to 
evaporate  spontaneously,  when  it  was  found  to  possess  properties  char* 
acteristic  of  fatty  acid  bodies.  The  insoluble  resinous  substance 
obtained  before  was  first  boiled  with  water,  then  thrown  on  a  filter^ 
well  washed  and  dried.  It  was  afterwards  dissolved  in  ether,  and  the 
solution  decolorized  by  animal  charcoal.  The  filtrate  was  evaporated, 
the  residue  redissolved  in  alcohol  and  then  allowed  to  evaporate  spon- 
taneously, left  a  deposit,  exhibiting  under  the  microscope,  a  rhomboidal 
crystalline  structure ;  it  is  evidently  a  resin.  This  megarrhi%itin  is- 
soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether,  and  is  unaffected  by  alkalies  and  solution 
of  cupric  sulphate. 
The  root  previously  exhausted  by  ether  was  next  treated  with  alco- 
hol (sp.  grav.  0*835),  until  deprived  of  its  bitter  taste.  The  tincture 
was  evaporated  to  a  small  bulk,  then  thrown  into  water  to  remove 
traces  of  fat  or  resin,  and  afterwards  filtered.  The  liquid  was  heated 
to  expel  the  spirit.  To  the  resulting  aqueous  fluid  was  added  a  con- 
centrated solution  of  tannic  acid.  A  bulky  gelatinous  precipitate  was 
obtained.  This,  being  removed  by  a  filter,  was  well  washed  and 
dried.  It  was  now  dissolved  in  alcohol  (95  per  cent.),  the  tannin 
thrown  down  by  plumbic  subacetate,  the  excess  of  lead  removed  by 
H2S,  and  the  liquid  filtered  and  evaporated.  The  residue  veil  washed 
with  ether  yielded  the  bitter  principle  pure.  This  proces.  was  adopted 
from  that  of  Dr.  Waltz,  as  mentioned  in  his  analysis  of  colocynth. 
