Alice A. Ball

“ But when the total potassium salts were acidified the product formed contained a crystalline substance in addition to the resinous acids. This crystalline substance was separated from the resinous acids by means of their difference in solubility in ether. On recrystallization from absolute alcohol, it had a melting point of 179 degrees Centigrade. It is therefore methysticinic acid. This acid constitutes about twenty percent of the total acids from the ester resins because the barium and iron acids constitute only about seventy five percent. ”

“ A small amount of the Barium acids was sealed with concentrated nitric acid in a hard glass tube and heated in a bomb furnace for an hour and a half at 115 to 120 degrees Centigrade. On cooling a yellow solid separated. Qualitative tests showed that this oxidation product contained no nitrogen, combined with sodium hydroxide readily, is soluble in hot water, slightly soluble in cold water, easily soluble in ether, alcohol and benzol and slightly soluble in carbon tetrachloride. ”

“ The crystalline product consists, largely of methysticin, the methyl ester of methysticinic acid. In addition to this there is about five percent of the free methysticinic acid present.
The resinous product consists of about five percent of free resinous acids, which acids can be separated into three different acids or groups of acids according to their solubility in the different alkalies. The remaining resinous product is composed of ester resins. On hydrolysis these esters yield three distinct acids, two resinous acids and methysticinic acid. ”

“ The barium precipitate was treated with dilute hydrochloric acid and heated to boiling to decompose the barium resinate, and to liberate the free resin acid. The liberated acid was a brown resin of a thin consistency and had a characteristic odor. This acid was removed by [Pg 11] shaking out with ether. The ethereal solution was dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered, and the ether removed by distillation. The last traces of ether were removed by heating the resin acids in a vacuum oven at sixty five degrees Centigrade. ”

“ A small quantity of the acid was treated with an excess of ten percent alcoholic potash and heated to eighty degrees Centigrade to complete the saponification. Instead of the formation of the potassium salts, a thick dark brown solid, gummy mass separated. On cooling it solidified to a brittle solid which had all the physical properties of a true resin. This solid is soluble in ether, chloroform and benzol, [Pg 20] slightly soluble in alcohol and insoluble in petroleum ether and water. It burns without the formation of an ash. ”

“ Kava is at first stimulating, but the effect of an excess resembles that of opium, producing a drowsy drunkenness, lasting for two hours. The inebriate is usually peaceable, but sometimes is irritated by noises, which is attributed by natives to the use of kava grown in moist ground. The results of excess are skin disease, emaciation, and general decrepitude. The peculiar whiteness of the skin caused by kava drinking is said to be sought after in some islands as a sign that its possessor is wealthy enough to devote his time to its acquirement. ”

“ It provokes abundant secretion of saliva and in a few seconds occasions a sensation of burning on the tongue. The root contains about fifty percent of starch, a little pale-yellow essential oil, two percent of an acrid resin, and one percent of the neutral crystalline principle methysticin, called kavahin. To the latter principle we must attribute the toxic qualities of the kava preparation. The resin and the kavahin are insoluble in water, but are soluble in saliva and the gastric juices. ”

“ One cubic centimeter intraperitoneal injections of the total resinous extract emulsion and the same amount of the iron acid emulsion were made into rabbits. During the three hours the animals were under observation no symptoms were produced. ”

“ The following statement was found in “Watts Chemical Dictionary”, “Kawain—a crystalline resin occurring along with methysticin in kawa-kawa, It is not a glucoside. On oxidation it yields benzoic acid. ”