Quantitative Separation of Atropine and Scopolamine by Paper Electrophoresis

Abstract

Atropine and scopolamine were detected quantitatively by paper electrophoresis using 0.1N ammonia solution as the electrolyte. The alkaloids separated on the filter paper were detected as brown spots when exposed to iodine vapor. After elution of these spots, the solvent was evaporated, the alkaloidal residue was nitrated, dissolved in dimethylformamide, and tetraethylammonium hydroxide was added, according to the method of Freeman. The absorbancy (y) of each solution at 545mμ was measured and concentration (x in γ/cc.) of each alkaloid was calculated from the following equations:
For atropine: x=113y+0.8
For scopolamine: x=131y+1.3
Assay results from this method were compared with that of the official method, using scopolia extract and scopolia root as samples.