Obtaining saponine from horse-chesnuts / [Ludwig Weil].

  • Weil, Ludwig.
Date:
1901
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Obtaining saponine from horse-chesnuts / [Ludwig Weil]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1/4
    lsr8217 A.D. 1901 Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1901—Accepted, 13th Apr., 1901 COMPLETE SPECIPICATIOiS'. “ Obtaining Saponine from Horse-cliesnuts ” ^ I, Ludwig Weil of 14 Schifflentstaden, Strassburg, Alsace in tbe Prussian Empire; Apothecary, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularlj’ described and ascertained in and by the following statement: — 5 It is well known that the nuts of the horse-chestnut tree have on account of the well-known soap-like cleansing properties of their liquid extract long been used for washing purposes without anyone having hitherto succeeded in isolating the substance which produces this eifect although the copious frothing of the liquid extract has sometimes been attributed to it containing saponine (see Bohm. 10 “Bearing of Sheep'’ 1873 pages 445 and 448). As the large quantity of starch contained in the nuts was frequently found to present considerable drawbacks, especially in washing with hot water, it is not surprising that in using vegetable detergents in large quantities (in which those containing saponine no doubt play the greater part) tliose have been preferred 15 which not only contain much active substance but also allow it to be utilised as completely as possible, for instance, quillaia bark(^(j)a'ii/a^r.fc sciptyfictridj developes a much more intense cleansing power than the soap-wort (^aponaria officvnatis) which IS much richer in saponine, because even the structure of the former favours very much the release of the glycosides by means of the dissolving medium. 20 (See Agricultural Annals Yol. 44 pages 153 and btq.) As tJierefore the cells of the horse-chestnut, full of starch and oil, allow the active substance to be released only in a small degree by aqueous lixiviation, the horse-chestnut has only been regarded as of little detergent value. The bitter ingiedient not identified at present, has had hitherto a deleterious influence until 25 very lately in the obtaining of starch from horse chestnuts. By numerous experiments and preparation of all kinds of substances I have ascertained the saponine contents of horse-chestnuts. It is of special importance to be able by separating the saponine contained therein not only to better utilise this very common and plentiful nut, already valued on account of the starch it 30 contains, but also to make it more available for cleansing purposes. On the other hand, by means of my method of producing, a cleansing and frothing product from this raw material there results a purer saponine which may advantageously replace the ordinary extracts containing saponine in which usually colouring or attendant matters are also contained. 35 ^ The practical obtaining of saponine from vegetable matter usually depends on its easy solubility in spirits of wine (particularly when hot) and its capability of precipitating from this solution by means of ether. This property which saponine has in common with many other vegetable matters in a greater or less degree, is not of course sufficient to separate it. Thus, products obtained only in 40 this way have eventually been found to be very impure mixtures. It is abso¬ lutely necessary to purify products thus obtained and as the other substances may be of the most varied nature according to fhe chemicals used in the process, the purification must be adapted to the composition of these latter; possibly certain substances can be removed before the saponine is extracted. This is also preferable 46 with horse-chestnuts. ^
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3