STUDIES ON THE EXTRACTION AND ISOLATION OF SECURININE FROM SECURINEGA SUFFRUTICOSA(PALL.)REHD.BY ADSORPTION WITH ACTIVE CARBON

Securinine, an alkaloid from Securinega suffruticosa (Pall.) Rehd., has a stimulant action on the central nervous system. It is being used in many clinics of the USSR as a stimulant during the restorative period of acute poliomyelitis and in treatment of disturbances in motor and nervous functions. The present paper reports the use of active carbon for the isolation of sccurinine from the leaves of the plant as grown in Peking with seeds from the USSR. Ninety-four percent of the total alkaloids could be extracted by wetting the air-dried leaves for two hours with 0.3% H₂SO₄, and then percolating till the weight of percolate was 10 times that of the leaves. Adsorption of total alkaloids from the percolate by active carbon was best carried out at room temperature and pH 8—10.2. Chloroform was found to be a good desorbent. Raising the temperature increased the quantity desorbed. According to these results, a procedure for the isolation of securinine has been proposed, and small scale runs gave yields of 35.7—36.5% (based upon the total alkaloid content of the leaves) with m.p. 139.5—140.5℃.