Chemical examination of kô-sam seeds (Brucea sumatrana, Roxb.) / by Frederick B. Power and Frederic H. Lees.

  • Power, Frederick B. (Frederick Belding), 1853-1927.
Date:
[1903]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Chemical examination of kô-sam seeds (Brucea sumatrana, Roxb.) / by Frederick B. Power and Frederic H. Lees. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    small amount of some substanoe which caused the solution to give a deep green colour with ferric chloride, but which was not isolated. Bitter principle (a), which was thus soluble in chloroform, was subsequently obtained from ether, in which it is only sparingly soluble, as a light coloured amorphous powder. Bitter principle (/3), which was insoluble in chloro- form under the conditions mentioned, could only be obtained as a brown extract. It was definitely shown that neither of these bitter principles can be regarded as quassin. The results of this investigation, therefore, do not enable us to confirm the statement of Heckel and Schlagdenhaufien (loc. cit.) that K6-sam seeds contain quassin, of which they have in fact presented no satisfactory evidence, nor do they afford any justification of the statement of Bertrand (loc. cit.) res- pecting the glucosidal nature of a bitter principle which he has termed “kosamine.” It is to be noted, moreover, that Bertrand has given no indication of having actually isolated any definite substance to which such a name could properly be attached. Although mentioning its insolubility in certain anhydrous solvents, and that it is not precipitated by either neutral or basic lead acetate, by means of which it is stated that it may be separated from such substances as oil, resin, acids, etc., there is still no evidence that the principle to which he attributes the activity of the seeds was obtained in any more definite form than an aqueous solution, which must also have contained a considerable quantity of sugar. A correct conclusion respecting the active principle of K6-sam seeds could apparently only be formed when some definite con- stituent of them, such as the bitter principle (a), isolated by us, is tested clinically with reference to its particular value in the treatment of dysentery. It is more probable that the thera- peutio value of the drug depends upon the combined action of its constituents. In this connection, it would seem desirable to ascertain whether other parts of this plant, such as the bark, may not be as efficient as the seeds, since the latter are somewhat difficult to obtain in quantity. It would also be of interest to determine, by a comparative examination, the constituents of the closely- allied Abyssinian plant, Bruceaantidysenterica, which, onaccount of the properties indicated by its name, is highly esteemed in its native country. THE WELLCOME CHEMICAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES, LONDON, E.C.