Studies on Acorus Calamus, Part II

Abstract

Abstract The capacity to potentiate the sedative action of pentobarbitone by the volatile oil of Indian Acorus calamus has been used to screen various fractions of the oil for the presence of the principle responsible. The methods used for the removal of the oxygenated components of the oil did not remove the active material. The results show that the active principle resides in the hydrocarbon fraction of the oil or in an oxygenated component not removed by the methods employed. The volatile oil from the European Acorus calamus showed activity similar to the oil from the Indian drug.