Simultaneous assay for six alkaloids in opium, using high-performance liquid chromatography.
A method is described for the quantitative determination of morphine, codeine, cryptopine, thebaine, papaverine, and narcotine in opium by high-performance liquid chromatography. The alkaloids are isolated from a dilute acid extract by adsorption on an Amberlite XAD-2 resin column and eluted first with methanol and then with chloroform-methanol (3+1). After solvent removal by reduced pressure evaporation, the alkaloids are redissolved in chloroform-methanol (3+1). The sample solution, plus brucine as an internal standard, is injected onto a Corasil II column and eluted with hexane that is gradient programmed with a solution of chloroform-methanol-diethylamine (100+300+1). The absorbances of the separated alkaloids are continuously monitored at 254 nm, using a flow-through ultraviolet double-beam photometer.
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003061:Codeine / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009020:Morphine / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009665:Noscapine / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009892:Opium / Q000032:analysis*; D010208:Papaverine / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012997:Solvents; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013797:Thebaine / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000470:Alkaloids; D004149:Dioxoles; D012997:Solvents; D013797:Thebaine; D009020:Morphine; D009892:Opium; D009665:Noscapine; D010208:Papaverine; D003061:Codeine