QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF HELLEBRIN IN THE RHIZOMES AND ROOTS OF HELLEBORUS PURPURASCENS W. ET K.

Abstract

Using two photocolorimetrical methods described in the literature the authors carried out a sequential study for the quantitative estimation of hellebrin in Helleborus purpurascens. The defating of the plant material in a Soxhlet was faster and more reliable. The drug may be considered exhausted by three extractrions with methanol as solvent and a drug-solvent ratio of 1:20. The method indicated by the literature and based on a chloroform-methanol extraction of the first hydromethanolic extractive solution was not completly operative. Hellebrin was separeted by thin layer chromatography. The obtained residue after the elimination of the solvent was used, and the colour reaction with p-dimethylamino-benzaldehyd was carried out directly on silicagel. By heating on a boiled water bath for 15–20 minutes, the most strong and stable colour was obtained.