The Separation and Identification of Ergot Alkaloids by Paper Partition Chromatography

Abstract

Summary A study has been made of the application of paper partition chromatography in the ergot field. A technique for the separation and identification of ergometrine and ergometrinine, when present in mixtures of total ergot alkaloids, has been described. The method has been extended so that approximately quantitative results may be obtained and, in this way, the ergometrine contents of samples of ergot have been estimated. The changes which take place in injection of ergometrine maleate B.P. 1948, during manufacture and storage have been studied chromatographically. It was found that during heat sterilisation some conversion of ergometrine to ergometrinine occurs. On storage some hydrolysis giving rise to lysergic and iso-lysergic acids takes place. By preparing chromatograms from the hydrolysates of water-insoluble ergot alkaloids, identification tests for individual alkaloids have been developed. We wish to thank Mr. H. M. Hood, B. Sc., for the photograph of a chromatogram, Mr. R. L. Grant, M. Sc., for a sample of ergometrinine and Dr. S. Smith for specimens of lysergic and iso-lysergric acids. We are also indebted to the Directors of The Wellcome Foundation for permission to publish this paper.