Depressant Agent from Walnut Hulls

Abstract

Crushed unripe walnut hulls ( Juglans nigra ), when extracted with ether, yield an extract which sedates or at least depresses the movements of Daphnia magna, leopard frogs, perch, catfish, goldfish, mice, rats, and rabbits. One purified depressant compound, 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (juglone), has been isolated and tested on most of these species.