TLC analysis of strychnine and brucine in nux vomica pills.
Journal name: Ancient Science of Life
Original article title: Tlc – spectrophotometric analysis of strychnine and brucine from the ayurvedic pills of nux vomica
The ANSCI is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal focused on Ayurveda and traditional medicines. It publishes original research, reviews, and literary studies linking traditional knowledge with modern science, covering disciplines like botany, ethnomedicine, pharmacology, and clinical research.
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Original source:
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R. V. Gaitonde, Sanjay Joshi
Ancient Science of Life:
(A quarterly multi-disciplinary scientific research journal in Ayurveda)
Full text available for: Tlc – spectrophotometric analysis of strychnine and brucine from the ayurvedic pills of nux vomica
Year: 1986
Copyright (license): CC BY-NC-SA
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Summary of article contents:
Introduction
In Ayurvedic medicine, the efficacy of preparations is often evaluated by the quantity of crude drugs listed on labels, without a clear understanding of the active ingredients present. This study aims to quantify the alkaloids strychnine and brucine in Ayurvedic pills made from Nux vomica, utilizing Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) combined with spectrophotometric analysis. Given the lack of previous reports specifically analyzing these ingredients in Ayurvedic formulations, the research fills a notable gap in the literature.
Quantification of Active Ingredients
The quantitative analysis involved preparing test and standard solutions from Nux vomica pills and known amounts of strychnine and brucine. The samples were subjected to TLC, where chromatoplates were developed and visualized. The retention factor (Rf) values for strychnine and brucine were determined to be 0.72 and 0.92, respectively. Following this, the alkaloids were quantified using UV-visible spectrophotometry at specific wavelengths. A recovery experiment ensured accuracy, demonstrating high percentages of recovery for both alkaloids (98.20% for strychnine and 100.11% for brucine), indicating the reliability of the proposed analytical method.
Conclusion
The study successfully quantifies strychnine and brucine in Nux vomica pills from two different sources, revealing a content of 1.2405% and 1.1422% for strychnine, and 1.3886% and 1.2232% for brucine, respectively. This provides valuable data for evaluating the potency and quality of Ayurvedic formulations. The authors express gratitude to the Goa College of Pharmacy for supporting the research, which contributes important insights into the active ingredients in traditional medicine and underscores the need for rigorous analysis of herbal formulations.
FAQ section (important questions/answers):
What was the aim of Gaitonde and Joshi's research?
The research aimed to determine the percentage of strychnine and brucine in Ayurvedic pills made from Nux vomica, which had not been reported before.
How was the test solution prepared for analysis?
20 pills were powdered, and an equivalent weight of 10 pills was mixed with ammoniacal chloroform, stirred, and then the chloroform layer was extracted and evaporated to prepare the test solution.
What was the role of the recovery experiment in this study?
The recovery experiment involved adding known amounts of strychnine and brucine to the powder and analyzing it, which aided in verifying the accuracy and precision of the method used for quantification.
What were the findings regarding strychnine and brucine content?
The analysis revealed the following content levels: Sample I had 1.2405% strychnine and 1.3886% brucine, while Sample II had 1.1422% strychnine and 1.2232% brucine.
Glossary definitions and references:
Scientific and Ayurvedic Glossary list for “TLC analysis of strychnine and brucine in nux vomica pills.”. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of Ayurveda and other topics.
1) Drug:
The term 'Drug' in this context refers to the active substances identified and quantified in Ayurvedic pills, specifically strychnine and brucine derived from Nux vomica. Drugs play a critical role in therapeutic applications, and understanding their presence and concentration in herbal preparations is essential for ensuring efficacy and safety in traditional medicine.
2) Science (Scientific):
The word 'Science' relates to the systematic study and methodology employed in analyzing the components of Nux vomica. This research utilizes techniques like TLC and UV spectrophotometry to investigate pharmaceutical properties, reflecting the integration of ancient traditional practices with modern scientific approaches to validate and enhance the understanding of herbal medicines.
Other Science Concepts:
Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘TLC analysis of strychnine and brucine in nux vomica pills.’. Further sources in the context of Science might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:
Nux-vomica, Acknowledgement, Statistical evaluation, Literature survey, Strychnine and brucine, Rf value, HPLC, Recovery experiment, Standard solution, Chloroform layer, Test solution.