Studies on the Constituents of Digitalis purpurea L. II. Paper Partition Chromatography of Cardioglycosides from Digitalis Seeds.

Abstract

It was found that various glycosides are present in the seeds of Digitalis purpurea and these were found to be separatory identifiable by paper partition chromatography using filter paper soaked in water and methyl ethyl ketone saturated with water as the developing solution. By the use of three kinds of coloring agents, a total of 17 spots were found, assumed to be those of unknown glycosides. This confirmed that a fairly large amount of water-soluble glycosides was present. The use of the foregoing solvent system for column partition chromatography resulted in extremely easy purification of digitalinum verum which was obtained finally as crystals. A presence of a small amount of cardioglycoside, extremely similar to digitalinum verum and very difficult to be separated from it, was detected and it was assumed to be glucogitofucoside, separated as the acetate from the leaves of Digitalis lanata, by paper partition chromatography of the sugar portion of the acid hydrolyzate.