spathe: inspired by some traditional uses of the spathe studies were carried out (343) to isolate and analyze organic compounds responsible for the pleasant fragrance (and flavour) of spathe and its purported pharmaceutical properties for certain intestinal disorders. In a first attempt a distilled extract (pentane and ether) of freshly harvested spathes the analysis by gas chromotography revealed a prominence of 1,2-dimethoxyl-4-methyl benzene of up to 75% of total isolated volatiles. Male spathes contained about 40% more of this substance than female spathes and its content in absolute terms ranged from 0.7-1.1 g/kg spathe. It has a pleasant characteristic flavour somewhat like vanilla. In a subsequent investigation (338) a conventional chemical analysis of the major components of the spathe was carried out resulting in the following composition:
The aqueous distillate was tested for antimicrobial activity (proved negative), and for biological activity in mice, rabbits, guinea pigs and frogs, without any effect on heart, blood pressure and muscle reactions.
Analysis of the distillate by gas chromotography revealed a number of organic compounds a.o. of the camphor family besides the earlier mentioned cyclohexenes. It is, however, clear that no final conclusions can be drawn at this stage of research on the active components in spathe distillate related to its flavour and pharmaceutical properties. Some work was carried out on the oil of the spathe