Quantitative Analysis of Strychnine and Brucine in Strychnos nux-vomica using ¹H-NMR

Abstract

A quantitative analysis using ¹H-NMR (Q-NMR) has been developed for the determination of strychnine and brucine in Strychnos nux-vomica seeds and stems. The advantages of the method are that no reference alkaloids are needed for calibration curves, the quantification could be directly realized on a crude extract, strychnine and brucine could easily be distinguished, an overall profile of the preparation (including non alkaloid compounds) could be directly obtained, and a very significant time-gain could be achieved, in comparison to conventional HPLC methods, for instance.

References

• 1 Verpoorte R, Svendsen A B. High-speed liquid chromatographic separation of some Strychnos alkaloids.  J Chromatogr. 1975;  109 441-2
• 2 Gadi-Biala R, Tits M, Wauters J N, Angenot L. A new HPLC method for the assay of alkaloids in Strychnos nux-vomica and Strychnos ignatii .  Fitoterapia. 1996;  67 163-5
• 3 Bratati D, Bisset N G. Separation of Strychnos nux-vomica alkaloids by high-performance liquid chromatography.  J Chromatogr A. 1991;  587 318-20
• 4 Chen W S, Liu L L, Li X, Li J W, Ji S G, Zhang G Q. et al . Separation and determination of strychnine and brucine in Strychnos nux-vomica L. and its preparations by capillary zone electrophoresis.  Biomed Chromatogr. 2000;  14 541-3
• 5 Onge E S, Binte Apandi S N. Determination of berberine and strychnine in medicinal plants and herbal preparations by pressurized liquid extraction with capillary zone electrophoresis.  Electrophoresis. 2001;  22 2723-9
• 6 Lounasmaa M, Tolvanen A. ¹H NMR data of monoterpenoid alkaloids.  Heterocycles. 1986;  24 3229-81
• 7 Sandberg F, Roos K, Ryrberg K J, Kristiansson K. A new alkaloid, 4-hydroxystrychine, from African species Strychnos icaja Baill. Tetrahedron Lett 1968: 6717-8
• 8 Van Beek T A, van Veldhuizen A, Lelyveld G, Piron I, Lankhorst P. Quantitation of bilobalide and gingkolides A,B, C and J by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.  Phytochem Anal. 1993;  4 261-8
• 9 Maniara G, Rajamoorthi K, Rajan S, Stockton G W. Method performance and validation for quantitative analysis by ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. Applications to analytical standards and agricultural chemicals.  Anal Chem. 1998;  70 4921-8
• 10 Choi Y H, Choi H K, Hazekamp A, Bermejo P, Schilder Y, Erkelens C. et al . Quantitative analysis of bilobalide and gingkolides from Gingko biloba leaves and gingko products using ¹H-NMR.  Chem Pharm Bull. 2003;  51 158-61
• 11 Pauli G F. Q-NMR, a versatile concept for the validation of natural product reference compounds.  Phytochem Anal. 2001;  12 28-42