RAPID SAMPLE PREPARATION TECHNIQUE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PYRROLIZIDINE ALKALOIDS IN PLANT-EXTRACTS

To determine toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids from various plant sources, a sample preparation technique is described that affords alkaloid fractions suitable for capillary GC or TLC determination. The procedure includes the reduction of the alkaloid N-oxides with the oxygen-absorbing resin Serdoxit and a clean-up with strong cation-exchange solid-phase columns. If desired an enrichment of the alkaloids can be obtained. The method was tested with methanolic extracts from Senecio vulgaris, Petasites hybridus and Symphytum officinale.