Page 72 - phytochemistry general program
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2- When cocaine HCl is mixed with a drop of platinic chloride solution, yellow
needles are obtained.
3- With aurichloride solution, crystals of stellate rods are obtained (very
sensitive 1:20 000).
When cocaine is heated with 0.1 ml sulphuric acid for 5 min, cooled .4
cautiously then 2 ml water added; an aromatic odour of methyl benzoate
is obtained. When the solution is cooled and allowed to stand for few
hours, crystals of benzoic acid is obtained. (B.P. 1998).
Indole alkaloids
The indole alkaloids comprise a very important class of medicinally valuable
alkaloids; and from those plants containing indole alkaloids, several useful drugs
Ergot; the have been derived and used for centuries. As, for example the drug
oxytocic effect of which has been well known for centuries, before its official
recognition in the mid1800s, and well before the isolation and identification of its
active alkaloidal constituent.
:Of the medicinally important representatives of the indole class, are
Ergot alkaloids 2- Strychnos alkaloids 1- The
3- Physostigma alkaloids 4- Rauwolfia alkaloids
5- Yohimbe alkaloids 6- Vinca or Catharanthus alkaloids
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