Collaborative study of a spectrofluorometric assay for Rauwolfia serpentina tablets and powdered root.
Reserpine-rescinnamine group alkaloids are extracted from Rauwolfia serpentina preparations into a dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-methanol mixture and diluted with 0.5N H2SO4. The chloroform extract of this solution is passed through a 0.1N NaOH-Celite column and then through a silica gel column. The weakly basic alkaloids trapped on the latter column are eluted with a methanol mixture; a portion of the eluate is treated with nitrous acid and the reserpine-rescinnamine content is determined by measuring the intensity of fluorescence of the oxidation product. The following means and standard deviations (11 collaborators) were obtained for the determination of reserpine-rescinnamine group alkaloids in 4 samples of Rauwolfia serpentina (NF reference powder, 100 mg and 50 mg commercial tablets, and a 45 mg synthetic tablet formulation) : 0.174% +/- 0.0112, 0.131% +/- 0.0047, 0.160% +/- 0.0100, and 0.153% +/- 0.0083, respectively.
D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008722:Methods; D008832:Microchemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011208:Powders; D011926:Rauwolfia / Q000032:analysis*; D012110:Reserpine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013607:Tablets
D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011208:Powders; D013607:Tablets; D012110:Reserpine