The bitter substance that occurs in both seeds and barks crystallises in monoclinic plates, melts at 255° and decomposes at 260°, and has n1.624 and [a]D+250°. It contains no water of crystallisation, and has the composition C29H34O11. With phenylhydrazine, it yields a yellowish, crystalline substance, melting at 214°; no methoxyl or ethoxyl group is present. It gives a violet coloration with strong sulphuric acid, and has a poisonous action on frogs, less so on guinea pigs and rabbits. Most probably it is identical with the samaderin of Rost Van Tonningen. (By J.L. Van Der Marck, Arch. Pharm. 1901, 239, 96-113.) J. Ch. S. LXXX., pt, II., p. 334.
The seeds of Samadera Indica contain 63 p. c. of fat, which consists of 87.7 p. c. of triolein, 8.41 of tripalmitin, and 3.89 of tristearin. The alcoholic extract contains an alkaloid which appears to be identical with gliadine and a resin ; glucosides and a bitter principle are present in the seeds. The bitter principle is also contained in the bast and is accompanied by tannic acid; it is somewhat soluble in alcohol and acetone, melts at 255°, and is apparently identical with Rost Van Tonningen's samaderin. It contains carboxyl groups, but neither a methoxy, nor an ethoxy-group, and, when administered to cold- blooded animals, causes paralysis of the voluntary nerves and death.
A second bitter principle is found in the roots ; it melts at 209°, is soluble in alcohol and sodium hydroxide solution, and is apparently identical with quassin.
J. Ch. S. Vol. LXXX. pt, II. p. 71.
247. — S. lucida, Wall. h. F. b. i, i. 519.
Vern. : — Ka-thay (Burm.)
Habitat: — Burma and Andaman Islands.
Very nearly allied to S. indica, and perhaps only a variety. Leaves a paler green, sometimes larger, with longer petioles. Peduncles of umbels shorter than the leaves. Umbels sometimes almost sessile. Fruit strongly reticulated, smaller, pear-shaped, dark brown, glabrous, with a narrow wing.
Use : — The leaves are intensely bitter and taste like quassia.
248. — Picrasma quassioides, Benn. H. F. B. I., I. 520.
Syn. : — Simaba quassioides, Ham. Nima quassioides, Ham. mss.
Vern. : — Bharangi or baringi (H.) ; Puthorin, bera, mâthu, bering, pesho, kashbar, birgo (Pb.) Himalayan names, ; Shama baringi (Nepal).
