Doundake
Doundake. Dundaki. Quinquina Africaine. Kina du Rio Nunez.—Sarcocephalus esculentus Afzel. (fam. Rubiaceae) of Africa yields a bark which is said to be an astringent and tonic febrifuge. For a description of the bark and its chemical characteristics, see P. J., vol. xvi, 49. Heckel and Schlagdenhauffen do not believe that doundake contains an alkaloid, but attribute its power to three distinct principles of a resinous nature, the first of which is of an orange-yellow color and very bitter, soluble in water, alcohol, and potassium hydroxide; the second light yellow in color, soluble in potassium hydroxide but not in water; the third soluble in potassium hydroxide, insoluble in water and in alcohol. (J. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1886, 435.) The wood of the Sarcocephalus Diderrichii (?) (fam. Rubiaceae), which is used for making shuttles, has been found by Gibson to contain an alkaloid, which is a cumulative cardiac poison. Workers in the wood frequently suffer and even die from cardiac disturbances. (Bio-Chem, J., 1906, i, p. 39).
