Colorimetric Determination of Steroidal Sapogenins. II.

Abstract

A microdetermination method for quantitative analysis of the steroidal sapogenin content of plants was established. The sapogenins possessing slightly different Rf values were separated completely on thin-layer plates according to the method reported by Peereboom and Beekes. Because of the low recovery rate of the sapogenins after extraction procedures the Kieselgel layer containing the sapogenins was directly heated with anisaldehyde, then again heated with phosphoric acid and centrifugated. The absorbances of the clear supernatants were measured at 540mμ. The effect of the Kieselgel on the absorption spectra of the sapogenins was not observed. The recovery curves were linear between 10 and 60 μg.