cathartine

English edit

cathartine (uncountable)

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”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎^[1]:
  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 (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎^[2]:
  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.