AURICULARINE—A NEW ALKALOID FROM THE ROOTS AND STEMS OF HEDYOTIS AURICULARIA.

Chemical examination of the root and stem of Hedyotis auricularia has shown the presence of the following constituents : fatty matter yielding on saponification stearic and linoleic acids, a phytosterol, alizarin, oxalic acid, glucose, a crystalline alkaloid, auricularine (C₄₂H₅₅ON₅ m. p. 210°) and amorphous bases. Results of microanalyses show that auricularine is different from the alkaloid hedyotine, isolated from the same plant. Unlike hedyotine, auricularine is a crystalline alkaloid with definite chemical characteristics.