Chemical examination of elaterium and the characters of elaterin / by Frederick B. Power and Charles W. Moore.
- Frederick Belding Power
- Date:
- [1909?]
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Chemical examination of elaterium and the characters of elaterin / by Frederick B. Power and Charles W. Moore. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![Fraction I. (m.p. 230°).—01416 in 20 C.c. of chloroform gave av —0° 45' in a 2 dcm. tube, whence [a]D —52-9°. Fraction III. (m.p. 203—207).—0 2060 in 20 C.c. of chloro¬ form gave av> —0° 11' in a 2 dcm. tube, whence [u]d — 8’9°. Fractions IV. and V. United (m.p. 190—202°).—0T200 in 20 C.c. of chloroform gave an -+- 0° 10' in a 2 dcm. tube, whence [»]d +• 13'9°. The physiological action of the crude elaterin and the various fractions obtained therefrom were determined by the administration of 01 gramme in each case to dogs. Crude Elaterin produced purgation. Fraction I. (m.p. 230°) had no effect. Fraction II. (m.p. 228—230°) had no effect. Fraction III. (m.p. 203—207°) produced repeated, but not violent purgation. Fraction IV. (m.p. 198—202°) produced purgation, and was more drastic than Fraction III., but its action was not violent, and no vomiting occurred. Fraction V. (m.p. 190—195°) produced very severe purga¬ tion, accompanied by •repeated vomiting. The motions con¬ tained much epithelium and mucus, and the animal was very unwell for two days. It will be apparent from the above results that by the frac¬ tional crystallisation of 6'5 grammes of crude elaterin it was possible to separate 4 grammes, or 61 per cent., of a sub¬ stance which, in doses of 01 gramme, was completely devoid of purgative properties. It will also be observed that the degree of physiological activity exhibited by these products appears to be dependent upon the proportion of the dextro¬ rotatory compound present; for while the above-described crude elaterin, having [a] d—16*4°, produced some purgation, the principal fraction (I.), which was much more strongly laevo-rotatory ([«]d—52'9°), was quite devoid of this pro¬ perty. On the other hand, the highest degree of physiological activity was shown by the two most-readily soluble fractions, which together were dextro-rotatory, having [a]o + 13'9°. In view of the facts above noted, it was deemed desirable to ascertain the character of commercial elaterin. For this purpose two representative samples were obtained, one cf which was guaranteed to be of English manufacture, while the other was of German origin. English Elaterin.—This was a white, crystalline product, which corresponded in its general characters to the descrip-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30614430_0009.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
