Xanthone Glycoside from Rhizome of Acorus calamus

The rhizome of Acarus calamus Linn. (Fam. Araceae), commonly known as "Butch" is a useful medicinal plant found throughout India, Ceylon and Sikkim. In India it is mostly found in marshy tracts of Kashmir and Sirmon in Manipur, and Nagahills t. Its rhizome has medicinal properties against bed bugs, moths, lice, emetic stomach in dyspep etc? The new xanthone glycoside was isolated as described in Experimental Section, mp 270 °C. It analysed for C2sH360'6 and on hydrolysis with 7% H2S04 gave galactose and glucose (PC) as sugar moieties and an aglycone which was shown to be a xanthone by its colour reactions and UV spectral data.