Saponins. II.—Fractionation and pharmacological properties of lucerne saponins. The possible relation of these to bloat

Abstract

Abstract Improved methods of paper chromatography revealed 10 (and possibly 12) constituents of lucerne bulk saponin. Qualitative differences were observed between the bulk saponins isolated by the cholesterol procedure from dried samples of bloat‐producing and non‐bloat‐producing lucerne stands. This appears to be the first time that actual chemical differences have been detected between the two types of herbage. The in vitro rat diaphragm test for respiratory inhibition detected no qualitative differences but was found to respond to quantitative differences. The implications are considered.