114 



C. U. C. P. ALUMNI JOURNAL 



July, 1918 



Extract 



Sample 



A 

 B 

 C 

 D 

 E 

 F 



Tincture 



A 



B 

 C 

 D 

 E 

 F 



U. S. p. VIII = 5% strychnine 



U. S. P. IX = 15.2 to 16.8% total alkaloids 



Total alkaloid 

 Method U.S. P. IX 



15.41% 



16.32 



14.89 



17.10 



15.61 



16.45 



U. S. P. VIII : 

 U. S. P. IX : 



0.241% 



0.271 



0.213 



0.224 



0.251 



0.249 



Again the results show that there is absolutely no relation between the per- 

 centage of total alkaloid and that of strychnine and some of the samples while 

 meeting the requirements of our present Pharmacopoeia show a decided deficiency 

 in strychnine content as required by the U. S. P. VIII. 



The question therefore suggests itself whether it would not be better to have 

 both a requirement for total alkaloid and for strychnine. Considering the results 

 obtained from the powdered Nux Vomica, sample C contained 2.52% total alka- 

 loid and yet is of decidedly inferior quality since it only contains .73% strychnine. 

 On the other hand sample I contains 1.26% strychnine but only 2.38% of total 

 alkaloids, therefore also of inferior quality. In the opinion of the author no dif- 

 ficulty would be had in obtaining Nux Vomica on the market, which contains at 

 least 2.5% total alkaloids and 1.25% of strychnine. The combination assay pro- 

 cess as suggested before could be used, thereby requiring only one sample for the 

 entire assay and making it little more difficult and complex than the assay of the 

 U. S. P. IX. 



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