Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/69

Rh uncertain in its operation (U. S. Dispensatory, 15th Edi., p. 1579). Ph. Indies, p. 142.

Dr. Guimaræ found it to act directly upon the organic muscular system, and specially upon the heart and blood-vessels, causing great constriction of the latter and distension of the larger arteries. Secondarily, it occasioned great dyspnœa, vomiting and diarrhœa (Dymock).

Dr. Gram (Arckice f. exp. path U. Pharm. xix ; 384) has found the plant to contain an active principle of a glucosidal character, which he has named asclepiadin, and appears to consider a purer form of the aselepiadin of Harnack and the asclepin of Feneulle This substance was yellowish, amorphous, and when freshly prepared very soluble in water, but either in solution or in a dry state it quickly decomposed, sugar being separated, and the residual compound becoming in proportion insoluble in water and inert. From an ethereal solution crystals gradually separated out, apparently identical with List's asclepione and quite inactive physiologically.

The physiological action of the unaltered aselepiadin was found to closely resemble that of emetin, but in view of the instability of the compound Dr. Gram doubts whether it can be advantageously introduced into medicine.

Asclepione C40H34O6 was discovered by C. List in the milk Sap of Asclepias syriaca (Gmelin Handle 17, 368.) Fineulle separated a resinous substance and a bitter principle (asclepin) from Asclepias Vincet- xicum. (J. Pharm. 11,305,) (Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. II. p. 428).

Vern. : — Ambarvel, van veri, arkapushpi (Ph.); Singarota (Bomb.); Shigaroti (Guz.).

Habitat: — The Punjab, Sindh, and eastwards to the Jumna river.

A small twining shrub with tuberous roots, almost glabrous. Leaves ¾-1½ in. long, variable in width, ovate oblong or linear, acute or obtuse ; usually mucronate, more or less fleshy, base rounded or cordate, petioles slender, 1/10-⅓in. long puberulous when young. Cymes 3-6-fld. Flowers greenish ; peduncles short or none, pedicels ¼-½ in. long, filiform. Calyx minute, deeply divided, puberulous ; lobes ovate, acuminate. Corolla ½in. in diam., divided nearly to the base ; segments ⅓-½ in. long, narrowly acuminate, glabrous outside, puberulous within. Corona-scales deltoid-ovate acute or acuminate.