The fruit consists of small, almost black seeds. History and Description. They are easily reduced to a powder of a color similar to that of senna leaves. Water takes up their aroma and a slight pungency, but no astringency. Hodges, in 1844, found in the leaves a bitter principle which he called maticin, an aromatic, volatile oil, nitrate of potassium, a soft, dark-green resin, etc.
Tannin is present in the leaves.
The volatile oil of matico is pale yellow and thick, and exists to the extent of 2.7 per cent. Its optical rotation is slightly right-handed. From the thick residue Prof. Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage. It has been highly recommended in bleeding from the lungs, stomach, or kidneys, and in dysen tery, but its use is doubtful in these cases.