Chemical examination of the bark of euonymus atropurpureus / by Harold Rogerson.

  • Rogerson, Harold.
Date:
[1912?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Chemical examination of the bark of euonymus atropurpureus / by Harold Rogerson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/18 (page 1052)
    extract of this material when distilled in a current of steam yielded an amount of a pale yellow essential oil equivalent to O'01 per cent, of the weight of the drug. The portion of the extract which was soluble in water contained a quantity of dulcitol amounting to 2'09 per cent, of the weight of the drug; a new’ acid, C5H4O3, melting at 121—122°, which evidently is fur an-^-carboxylic acid; a new crystalline alcohol, C21H30O4 (m. p. 248—250°), wThich has been designated euonymol; and a sugar which yielded ^-phenylglucosazone (m. p. 208—209°), together with small amounts of tannin and colouring matter. The portion of the extract which was insoluble in water consisted of a dark brown resin amounting to 3'2 per cent, of the weight of the drug. From this resin the following substances were isolated : Three new alcohols, namely: Euonysterol, C31H510*0H (m. p. 137—138°; [o]D — 28*2°); homo euonysterol, C40H69OOH (m. p. 133—134°); atropurol, C27H44(OH)2, melting at 283—285°; citrullol, C^HggO^OH)^ which has previously been obtained from colocynth (Trans., 1910, 97, 102); and a mixture of fatty acids consisting of palmitic, cerotic, oleic, and linolic acids. In the course of this investigation no product could be obtained corresponding with the “ euonymin ” described by Schmiedeberg (Arch. exp. Path. Pharm., 1883, 16, 163), and subsequently by Romm (Pharm. Centr-h., 1885, 26, 220) as a crystalline glucoside, w’hich is stated to have been isolated by Hans Meyer from the bark of Euonymus atropurpureus. Moreover, there was no evidence of the presence of any glucosidic substance in the bark. In conclusion, the author wishes to express his warmest thanks to Dr. F. B. Power for having suggested this research, and for the very kind interest he has manifested in the investigation; to Mr. F. H. Lees, F.I.C., for determining the refractive indices of methyl furan-a- and /3-carboxylates; and to Mr. A. J. Ewins, B.Sc., for determining the molecular weight of furanqS-carboxylic acid by the microscopic method. Tiie Wellcome Chemical Research Laboratories, London, E.C. H. CLAY AND SONS, LTD., BRUNSWICK ST., STAMFORD ST., S.E., ANI> BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.