GARDEN RUE.
1203
Description. —The leaves of several species of Barosma are known ine shops as Buchu (Bucku , E.; Folia Barosmce seu Biosnue) . Theys ^ e Ul tennixed with stalks and fruit. They are smooth, somewhate( j lnin g> sharply or bluntly serrated or crenated, and beset both on thees P ecia % between the teeth, and on the under surface, with glandse d with essential oil. Their consistence is coriaceous; their colour
Pale
°r yellowish-green ; their odour strong and rue-like (though somepare it to rosemary, others to cumin, or cat’s urine), and their taste isar, n and mint-like. They present considerable variety in shape. Thecommon are the following:—
ovat ^ vate °r obovate Buchu. Leaves of Barosma crenata, Eckl. and Zeyhar.—Leavesj e > *'Val, oblong, or obovale.
° r | ^vate-oblong Buchu. Leaves of Barosma crenulata, Willd.—Leaves ovate-oblongc » v . ate -°blong or oval-lanceolate, obtuse.
Unc 'y near -lanceolate Buchu. Leaves of Barosma serratifolia, Willd.—Leaves linear-°*ate or lanceolate, acuminate.
0
l^'^'PosmoN.—Two analyses of buchu have been made: one, inSaw >ty Brandes (Gmelin, Handb. de Chem. ii. T258); the other, in theyear, by Cadet de Gassicourt ( Journ. de Chim. Med. iii. 44).
same
Brandes’s Analysis.
keal ^ e ^ ow volatile oil . 0-88
.;. 2-34
C ,],, tractive (Diosmin) . 3'78
0 u ‘“>l*ylle . 4-77
Br enin "'-.
iw n , su bstance extracted by
< r ash
Alb!
p ot |^ OUs matter extracted by
12-71
4500
1-50
...„ . 2-42
4 iaii c men .::::::::::::::::::::: »-58
tabl a , cid > a, id matter precipi-B ass b o ; e .by tannin . 150
vl ) batp 1, f V , I . t * 1 oxalate alld P hos -
v a rtoi, e °^, l lme . 4-53
^ater S Sa ts °f potash and lime.. 3-07
4c el :„"-.. 12-94
'^^ aci d and loss. 386
Cadet’s Analysis .
Volatile oil. 0-665
Gum. 21170
Extractive. 5-170
Chlorophylle. 1-100
Resin . 2-151
Leaves of Diosma crenata 100-000
I heaves of Diosma crenata 100 00
l han of Buchu {Oleum Barosmce seu Diosmce). —Yellowish-brown, lighter
S Bitt*' odourt l l atof the leaves-
liable ; Sr Extractive! Diosmin. —Brownish-yellow, bitter and somewhat pungent,p 11 w ater, but neither in alcohol or ether.
1'ahp,^ l01 ' 0GIC AL Effects. —Buchu is an aromatic stimulant and tonic.
V le ln m °derate doses it promotes the appetite, relieves nausea and% cls ce ’ a nd acts as a diuretic and diaphoretic. Its constitutionalc 0t)(ji a Ppear referrible—first, to its action on the stomach; and, se-°Ut of |v° ^ le a bsoq>tion of the v olatile oil, which is subsequently thrown•°Dcal]• s y stem hy the secreting organs, on which it appears to actln its passage through them. Buchu seems to have a specificD Sr ^ e °If r the urinary organs.
bi Jc j' t he natives of the Cape of Good Hope prepare a spirit' v >th ^ 11 (which they tenn buchu brandy), by distilling the leavesSto, bapi. e ^ re S s of wine, which they employ in chronic diseases of thean d bladder.