The Chemical Constituents of Piper Methysticum: Or, The Chemical Constituents of the Active Principle of the Ava Root

								




                          Transcriber’s Notes
Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. All other
spelling and punctuation remains unchanged. In particular the author
uses Kavahin for what is now normally referred to as Kavain.
Italics are represented thus italic.

                                THESIS



                      presented for the degree of



                           MASTER OF SCIENCE



                                  at



                         THE COLLEGE OF HAWAII



                               JUNE 1915



                                  by



                            ALICE A. BALL.

The Thesis, herewith, on “The Chemical Constituents of the Active
Principle of the Ava Root” by Alice A. Ball, clearly demonstrates her
ability to do original work and to present her results in logical form.
Approved.
Chair of the Committee on
Advanced Degrees.


College of Hawaii,
May 14, 1915.

                       THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS



                                  OF



                           PIPER METHYSTICUM



                                  OR



                       THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS



                        OF THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLE



                           OF THE AVA ROOT.

                               INDEX.

                                                                    Page


1. Historical                                                        1


2. Method of Extraction                                              7


3. Method of Separation of the Resins                                9


4. Various Metallic Salts of the Resinous Acids                     12


5. The Total Resins                                                 13


6. The Barium Acid                                                  15


7. Oxidation Products of the Barium Acids                           21


8. The Iron Acids                                                   28


9. Oxidation of the Iron Acids and
the Free Acids                                                      33


10. Alcohol Radicals                                                34


11. Methysticin and Methysticinic Acid                              36


12. Physiological Action                                            38


13. Conclusion                                                      43

                             HISTORICAL.

“Among the customs peculiar to the inhabitants of the South Pacific
Islands, perhaps the most noted is that of the preparation and drinking
of a narcotic beverage called ava, kava, or yakona. Much of
its notoriety arises from the repulsive way in which it is sometimes
made. Aside from this, it is characteristic of a certain oceanic
area, and seems to be as strikingly limited to this area as is the
stick-and-groove method of making fire. The custom, is not confined