Page 27 - phytochemistry II -pharmD general

- 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

1- Non aqueous titration.
2- Colorimetric estimation.
Uses
Ephedrine is an indirectly acting sympathomimetic amine with effects similar
to those of noradrenaline

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