Cathartine

cathartine

1. A hypothetical substance formerly imagined to cause the bitterness and purgativeness of the dried leaves or pods of senna plants.
• 1822, The Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, Volume 7, The sulphate of potash insoluble in this fluid, being separated by the filter; the excess of sulphuric acid was precipitated by acetate of lead; then, by decomposing this latter salt, by sulphuretted hydrogen, and again filtering and evaporating to dryness, the Cathartine, or purgative principle of senna, was obtained.
• 1850, The Chemical Gazette, Volume 8, In this state this residue has all the properties ascribed to cathartine; but it is easy to be convinced, from the colour and the avidity with which it attracts moisture, that the substance is not pure.