Eugenia Cheken

Eugenia Cheken Hook. et Arn. (Myrtus Gheken, Spreng.) Cheken. Chequen. Arrayan. (Fam. Myrtaceae.)—The leaves of this Chilian plant have entered commerce under the name of Chekan leaves. Weiss (A. Pharm., 1888, p. 226) has found in them: (1) chekenon, C₄₀H₄₄O₈, a crystalline body; (2) chekenin, C₁₂H₁₁O₃, in yellowish rhombic tables; (3) chekenetin, C₁₁H₇O₆+H₂O, in olive-colored crystals; (4) cheken-bitter, an amorphous, very soluble bitter substance. (See P. J., 1889, 782, and Wein, A. Pharm., 1888, 665.) The leaves are used in their native country as a remedy in chronic respiratory catarrh, and have been strongly recommended by Murrell and others in chronic bronchitis. Their virtues appear to reside in the tannin, and especially in the volatile oil that they contain. The dose of the fluidextract is from one to three fluidrachms (3.9-11.6 mils).

The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, was edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others.