Chemical examination of the roots of Phaseolus multiflorus / by Frederick B. Power and Arthur H. Salway.

  • Power, Frederick B. (Frederick Belding), 1853-1927.
Date:
[1913]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Chemical examination of the roots of Phaseolus multiflorus / by Frederick B. Power and Arthur H. Salway. 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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    It apjiears probable from the above results that the liquid acids consisted chiefly of a mixture of oleic and linolic acids, with a small proportion of a fatty acid of lower carbon content. Ether, Chloroform, and Ethyl Acetate Extracts or the Resin. These extracts were dark-coloured, amorphous solids, amounting to 2 3, 3'5, and 1'8 grammes respectively. Nothing of a definite nature was isolated from them, but the ethyl acetate extract was found to be glucosidic in character. Alcohol Extract of the Resin. This extract was a dark-brown solid, amounting to 85 grammes. It was digested with hot alcohol, when the greater portion, consisting of indefinite, amorphous material, was dis- solved, leaving a small amount of a sparingly soluble substance. Isolation of a New Crystalline Glucoside, Phaseosaponin, C-0H810.,o- The above-mentioned small amount of sparingly soluble sub- stance was collected, and found to consist for the most part of a crystalline, organic sodium compound. It was, therefore, dissolved in a Ihot mixture of alcohol and dilute acetic acid, when, on cooling, colourless, glistening leaflets separated, which were free from inorganic material. This crystalline sub- stance, which melted and decomposed at 238°, was analysed. 0T210, when heated at 125°, lost 0 0128 H20. H2O = 10-6 0T082 of anhydrous substance gave 0 2356 C02 and 0 0820 H20. C-59-4; 11 = 8-4 C-j0HhiO20- 7H20 requires H.,0 = 1T2 per cent. CooHsAo requires C = 59 8 ; H = 8'4 per cent. The above-described substance possessed all the characters of a saponin. Thus it was found to be glucosidic, and it yielded an abundant persistent froth, when a few drops of its alcoholic solution were vigorously shaken with water. Furthermore, when dissolved an acetic anhydride, and a drop of concentrated sulphuric acid subsequently added, a purplish- red colour was produced. With consideration of the known molecular weights of some of the saponins, it is deemed prob- able that the substance possesses the formula ascribed to it rather than the simpler expression C25HJ2O10, which would conform equally well with the hydrolytic products obtained. The amount of material, however, did not permit of deter- mining its molecular weight. As it is apparently a new com- pound, it is proposed to designate it phaseosaponin, with refer- ence to its source. In order to ascertain the nature of the hydrolytic pro- ducts yielded by the saponin, all the remaining substance available (02 gramme) was heated for several hours in a reflux apparatus with 5 per cent, hydrochloric acid, sufficient alcohol having been added to effect its complete solution. The alcohol was then removed in a current of steam, when a