Page 29 - phytochemistry general program

- Its action is more prolonged than that of adrenaline.
- Ephedrine is less polar i.e it can pass the blood brain barrier

and cause CNS stimulation effect more than adrenaline
Properties

- Ephedrine free base is volatile with steam, a property that can be utilized for its
isolation

- It does not give precipitate with Mayer’s reagent

- Chloroform is not recommended for the extraction of ephedrine. Why?
Ephedrine in aged chlorofomic solution, or on evaporation, is transformed to

ephedrine HCl with release of the toxic gas ; phosgene (COCl2)

Separation of a mixture of ephedrine and -ephderine

1- Pseudoephedrine HCl is more soluble in chloroform than ephedrine HCl.
2- Pseudoephedrine HCl is more soluble in alcohol than ephedrine HCl.

3- Pseudoephedrine oxalate is more soluble in water than ephedrine oxalate.
Tests for identity

Chen's test: Dissolve ephedrineHCl in 1 ml of water, and add Copper Sulphate
(T.S.) (not more than 2 drops), followed by 1 ml of sodium hydroxide T.S.; a violet
color is produced. To the mixture, add 1 ml of CHCL3 and shake well; the CHCL3

layer is colored purple.
Quantitative estimation
Non aqueous titration. .1
Colorimetric estimation. .2

Uses
Ephedrine is an indirectly acting sympathomimetic amine with effects similar to

those of noradrenaline
Ephedrine is a bronchodilator used in the treatment of asthma, hey-fever, and

other allergic disorders,

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