1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Pilocarpine

PILOCARPINE, CuH16N2O2, an alkaloid found, together with isopilocarpine and other related compounds, in the leaves of jaborandi (Pzlocarpus pennatzfolzus). It was first isolated by E. Hardy in 1875 (Ben, 8, p 1594), and is a crystalline, very hygroscopic solid It is a strong poison. It has the properties of a monacid base and contains the methyl amino group, -NCH3 when heated with hydrochloric acid it gives isopilocarpine Isopilocarpine was isolated in 1900 by H A. D. ]owett (J own. Chem Soc 77, p. 473), and is a colourless oil which boils at 261° C (10 mm) It is a monacid base which is readily soluble in solutions of the causi ic alkalis ]owett is of the opinion that pilocarpine and isopilocarpine are stereo-isomers of the structure - /CH.jF1.CH3C, H5.(fH.CQO