Alkaloid quantification in a commercialized sample of Huperzia saururus (Lycopodiaceae)

BIRRI, M.A.; CABRAL PÉREZ, M.; VALLEJO, M.G.; ORTEGA, M.G.; CABRERA, J.L; AGNESE, A.M.

Córdoba

Simposio; X Simposio Argentino y XIII Simposio Latinoamericano de Farmacobotánica; 2010

Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, UNC-IMBIV

Huperzia saururus (Lam.) Trevis., an Argentinean autochthonous species is studied by our group because its effects on memory and learning. Literature refers about intoxications produced principally by decoctions consume. Because of this, National Health Ministry published in 2002 a manual of Primary Attention were associated risks of intoxication such as vomit, diarrhea, convulsions and comma are described. Statistical studies previously done by us allowed us to demonstrate that 57.40% of surveyed places in Cordoba city commercialized H. saururus. In relation to the sale magnitude, 80.6% of the respondents said that comparatively it represents 25% from the total of the most sold species. Respect to the form of H.  saururus commercialization, it is majority as a bulk or fractionated, or in minor degree, under drops presentation. Due to the important consume of H. saururus it was objective of the present work to quantify the present alkaloids in a commercial sample under a drop presentation. In order to obtain the alkaloids, the drops were submitted to extraction with chloroform by means of a liquid-liquid extractor with a previous media alkalinization until pH 12. Once the chloroform extract was concentrated to dry, it was weighed and posterior re-suspended in chloroform to give a final extract concentration of 22.2 mg/mL.  The separation and identification of the alkaloids were achieved by GLC-MS. A calibration curve was prepared with quantification purposes using ciclohexanone as internal standard and sauroxine (one of the majority alkaloids) as analyte.  From the analysis of the results, it can be concluded that the commercial sample has 0.01639 mg/mL of total alkaloids, expressed as sauroxine.  Since the indication of usage is 30 drops three times a day, such concentration implies a 0.025 mg of alkaloids consumed per intake.