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

  • Rogerson, Harold.
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

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

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    extract of this material when distilled in a current of steam yielded an amount of a pale yellow essential oil equivalent to 0‘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, C5H403, melting at 121—122°, which evidently is furan-fi-carboxylic acid; a new crystalline alcohol, C21H30O4 (m. p. 248—250°), which 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, C31H51OOH (m. p. 137—138°; [a]D —28'2°); homoeuonysterol, C40H69OOH (m. p. 133—134°); alropurol, C27H44(OH)2, melting at 283—285°; citrullol, C22H3609(0H)2, 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, which 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 0-carboxylates; and to Mr. A. J. Ewins, B.Sc., for determining the molecular weight of furan-j8-carboxylic acid by the microscopic method. Tiif. Wellcome Chemical Research Laboratories, London, E.C. R. CLAY AND SONS, LTD., BRUNSWICK ST., STAMFORD ST., S.E., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.
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