EPHEDRINE, an alkaloid (see ALKALOIDS) first prepared by Nagai (188 7) from the Chinese drug "Ma Huang," since then found in other species of Ephedra, and having the composition The naturally occurring laevo form has been syn thesized and shown to be It melts at 40° C, has a specific rotation [a) D— and forms well defined salts. Ephedrine has become important, since 1925, as a partial substitute for adrenalin (q.v.), particularly in the treat ment of asthma. (See EPHEDRA; JOINT-FIRS.)