Syringa. Syringa vulgaris, Common lilac.

Syringa. Syringa vulgaris L. Common Lilac. (Fam. Oleaceae.)—The leaves and fruit of this common garden plant have a bitter and somewhat acrid taste, and have been used as tonics and antiperiodics. Petroz and Robinet found in the fruit a sweet and a bitter principle. The latter was afterwards obtained pure by Meillet, who gave it the name of lilacin, and by Bernays, who called it syringin. It has been investigated by Kromayer (A. Pharm. (2), cxiii, 19), who established its glucosidal character, gave it the formula C₁₇H₂₄O₉ + H₂O, and showed it identity with the ligustrin of Polex. It forms long, white, stellate needles, which are tasteless, easily soluble in hot water and alcohol, insoluble in ether. The crystals become anhydrous at 115° C. (239° F.), and fuse at 212° C. (413.6° F.). As an antipyretic and anti-periodic drug it is said to be very valuable, especially when administered in the relapsing fevers of malaria. On heating with dilute acids its breaks up into syringenin, C₁₁H₁₄O₄, and a fermentable glucose. The syringenin (which has been recognized as oxy methyl coniferin) is a light, rose-red amorphous mass, soluble in alcohol, insoluble in water and ether.

The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, was edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others.