Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/389

Rh with a pale yellow tinge. It was sweet in taste and possessed the peculiar aromatic odour of full ripe Neem fruits. On boiling and removing the precipitated albuminous matter, a limpid faintly yellow solution was obtained. Angle of rotation of this solution at 15°C was + 1L°C. Its specific gravity at the same temperature Avas 1*0-589.

The following is the general composition of the material :—

Moisture ... ... ... ... 86*56 per cen r -.

Proteids ... ... ... ... 0*36 „

Gums and colouring matter ... ... ... 6*17 ,.

Glucose (grape sugar) ... ... ... 2*99 .,

Sucrose (cane sugar) ... ... ... 3'5l ,,

Ash ... ... .. ... ... 0*41 „

Petroleum ether extracted from the dried solids of the toddy only a trace of fatty and resinous matter. Tests for alkaloidal and glucosidal principle were in the negative.

Qualitative analysis of the ash showed the presence of potassium, iron, aluminium, calcium and carbon dioxide in it.

From the above analysis it can easily be seen that the toddy cannot claim any special medicinal properties. It is, like all other toddies, a syrupy solution of sugar plus a little albuminous and gummy matter with the peculiar odour of ripe Neem fruits. The valuable active principle of Neem which is an alkaloid according to Cornish and a resinous body according to Broughton (vide Watt's Dictionary of Economic Products), is absent. Hence the Neem toddy can be said to be a cooling nutrient and stimulating tonic, but it does not seem to contain anything which can be said to be useful for leprosy or other skin-diseases.

Dr. Watt also mentions the tapping of Neem for its toddy. This is not a general practice, but if it can be successfully tapped, and if it is made available in large quantities, then it might be a fruitful source of country liquor or even alcohol, and in that case the tree might well be brought under the Excise Act.

This investigation was carried out under the instructions of the Forest Chemist.

The English " Persian " Lilac.

Habitat. — Commonly cultivated in India and Burma ; wild in the Sub- Himalaya tract. Supposed to be indigenous in Baluchistan and the Jhelum valley in Kashmir (Brandis) and naturalized.

Syn. — Melia sempervirens, Sw. ; M. Bukayun, Royle.

Sanskrit. — Mahâanimba, himadruma, parvata-nimba-vriksha (Sans.)