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1368 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.

Kamala was first analysed by Dr. Thomas Anderson of Glasgow in 1855 who found the following constituents in 100 parts :— 78.19 of resinous colouring matter, 7.34 of albumen, 7.14 of cellulose, a trace of volatile oil, 3.84 of ashes, and 3.49 of water. Of the resinous colouring matters Dr. Anderson obtained one in a pure state by allowing a concentrated ethereal solution to stand for two days, drying and pressing in bibulous paper the resulting mass of granular crystals, and purifying them from adhering resin by repeated solution in ether and crystallisation. To this substance he gave the name of Rottlerin. It occurs in crystalline plates of a yellow colour insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol, ether and alkaline solutions. The formula was C₁₁H₁₀O₃ .

E. G, Leube, Jr. (Jahresbericht, 1860, 562), however, was unable to obtain any crystalline product, but he describes a resin melting at 80°, having the formula C 15 H l8 4 , and a resin melting at 191°, of the formula C₈H₁₂O₅ . Oettingen of Russia, in 1862, was unable to obtain any crystalline substance from kamala.

A. G. Perkin and W. H Perkin, Jr., in 1886 made a preliminary examination of kamala and separated by means of carbon bisulphide a yellow crystalline body Mallotoxin. On pursuing the investigation, Mr. A. G. Perkin contributed a full account of the constituents in Journ. Chem. Soc. LXI1I. (1893), pages 975-90. Rottlerin, the principal constituent, crystallises in salmon-coloured plates melting at 191-191.5°. When heated with caustic potash it yields benzoic acid, acetic acid and an amorphous substance. A resin of low melting point with the formula C₁₂H₁₂O₈ and closely associated with Rottlerin in many of its properties. When boiled with dilute alkalis the odour of benzaldehyde is noticeable.

A yellow crystalline colouring matter present in minute amount melting at 192-193°.

A wax, having a composition agreeing with the formula C₂₈H₅₄O₂ , and melting at 82°, the melting point of cetylic cerotinate.

The residue left on extracting kamala with carbon bisulphide contains two substances isorottlerin and a resin of higher melting point both soluble in ether.

Isorottlerin crystallises in groups of minute plates melting at 198-199°. Tt differs from rottlerin by being practically insoluble in carbon bisulphide, chloroform and benzene.

The rasin of high melting point is a pale yellow amorphous subtance of the formula C₁₃H₁₂O₄ .

In a subsequent paper on the chemistry of kamala [Journ. Chem. Soc. LXVII (1895), 230], Perkin continued the study of Rottlerin, the principal crystalline constituent, and showed the action upon it of nitric acid and sodium carbonate, the former yielding ortho and para-nitrocinnamic acids and the latter rottlerone. The yellow crystalline colouring matter contained more hydrogen than Rottlerin and is probably a reduction product of this body. The name homo-rottlerin was given to it.

In a further note on Rottlerin (Journ. Chem. Soc. 1899. LXXV., page 827) Perkin deduced from analyses of its mono-substituted salts the formula C₃₃