A CHEMICAL STUDY OF CHINESE DRUG—FALSE HO-HSIH, THE FRUIT OF DAUCUS CAROTA, L. (UMBELLIFERAE)

According to our preliminary work, the crystalline substances isolated from the Chinese drug-False Ho-Hsih, the fruit of Daucus carota, L., are composed of two kinds of sterols, one in prism, m. p. 108-109℃, and the other in rhomboid-crystal, m. p. 205℃, both not previously reported. The white-crystal is of unknown constitution, m. p. 52-53℃, with an empirical formula of C₄₀H₈₂. The yellowish prismatic crystal line compound of anthraquinone-like compound, m. p. 230℃ with decomposition and its empirical formula is C₁₆H₁₇O₈. Preliminary experiment indicates that the yellowish crystals inhibit the growth of dysenteric bacillus, even in a dilution at 125 γ per ml. This confirms the statement in Pen Tsao (Chinese materia medica) that the fruit of Daucus carota, L. is useful in the treatment of chronic dysentery.