An allied plant, the Ascyrum crux-Andreae , Linn . or St. Andrew's cross , has been locally applied to glandular indurations and swellings. Pharm. , Vol. Pectin is also present. The red coloring principle is a resinous body known as hypericum red . The odor of this principle is similar to that of the flowers.
Acids dissolve it with red, alkalies, chloroform, benzol and carbon disulphide with green color.
The substance does not possess any advantage over other indicators in alkalimetry. When exposed to air in thin layers, it turns greenish at once. The aqueous extractive matter of the flowers contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, and oxalic, sulphuric and carbonic acids. Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage. Used in suppression of the urine, chronic urinary affections, in diarrhoea, dysentery, worms, jaundice, menorrhagia, hysteria, nervous affections with depression, hemoptysis , and other hemorrhages .