An Investigation of the Alkaloids of Some British Species of Equisetum

Abstract

Abstract The alkaloids nicotine and palustrine have been separated from authentic mixtures by paper partition chromatography, paper electrophoresis and the use of buffered cellulose columns. These techniques were applied to extracts of E. arvense, E. telmateia and E. sylvaticum from the last two of which no alkaloids have previously been isolated. Nicotine was found in all three species but palustrine was not detected.