Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/193

Rh twenty-four hours a precipitate fell, giving the general characters of parapectin. The supernatant liquid on evaporation left a scaly residue, astringent to the taste, and perfectly soluble in water. Its aqueous solution reduced Fehling and gave a copious bluish black precipitate with ferric choloride. Lime-water produced a bright golden-yellow colour, followed by a reddish-brown precipitate. From the tannins proper it differed in that it was not precipitated by solution of gelatine.

(ii.) This residue apparently consisted of pectin intermixed with small portions of No. iii.

(iii.) This was a dark uncrystallizable treace-looking residue, which imparted to the palate a feeble sensation of sweetness. It was very soluble in water and reduced Fehling's solution abundantly. A strong aqueous solution was precipitated by absolute alcohol.

D. The marc from the alcoholic extraction was finally percolated to exhaustion with cold water. The liquor was evaporated down and the extract obtained taken up with hot water. A considerable amount of albuminous matter, which remained insoluble, was removed by filtration. The filtrate was treated successively with neutral and subacetate of lead and the precipitates decomposed in the same manner as described under C. The three liquids obtained, L, ii., iii., were evaporated down.

(i.) This residue was the smallest of the three. After standing for a considerable time some crystals were deposited, which on examination proved to be citric acid.

(ii.) Nothing of a crystalline nature was found in this residue. It appeared to consist chiefly of extractive matter.

(iii.) This residue after treatment with alcohol had the same characters and possessed the same properties as C. iii. It was not further examined.

The result of our examination of this bark may be summarized by stating the different principles which we have found— (1) crystalline fat ; (2) wax; (3) acrid principle ; (4) oroxylin ; (5) chlorophyll ; (6) pectinous substances ; (7) Fehling-reducing principle ; (8) astringent principle; (9) citric acid ; (10) extractive matter. —''Pharm. Journ''. Sept. 27, 1890.

Syn. : — Bignonia undulata, Smith. Roxb. 492.

Vern. : — Rugtrora (H) ; Rohira, roir, lahúra, lúár (Pb.) ; Lohira, lohari, lahero, khen (Sind) ; Roira, lohuri, rakht-reora, rugtrora (Bomb.) ; Rakht-roda (Mar.).

Habitat: — Western India; Sind; Punjab; Guzerat ; Rajputana, extending eastwards to the Jumna.

An evergreen shrub or small tree. Bark ¼in. thick, corky, reddish-brown. Wood greyish or yellowish-brown, close-grained,