INVESTIGATION OF THE ALKALOIDS OF HOMEOPATHIC INDIGO (BAPTISIA) TINCTURES

DOI: https://doi.org/None
Issue: 
7
Year: 
2016

D.A. Nikishin (1), N.S. Teryoshina (1), PhD; V.N. Tashlitsky (2), PhD 1 -I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University; 8, Trubetskaya St., Build. 2, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation; 2 -Faculty of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University; 1, Leninskie Gory, Build. 3, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation

Introduction. Wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria (L.) Vent.) preparations are used in homeopathy to treat severe infectious diseases. The roots of the plant contain flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, triterpene saponins, glycoproteins, polysaccharides, and quinolizidine alkaloids. Objective: to investigate the alkaloids of homeopathic matrix tinctures of indigo. Material and methods. The objects of the investigation were homeopathic matrix tinctures from fresh and dried wild indigo roots. The investigation was conducted by HPLC using a Waters ACQUITY UPLC/TQD® chromatograph. Results. Examination of the alkaloid composition of homeopathic indigo tinctures established the presence of quinolizidine alkaloids, such as cytisine, N-methylcytisine, thermopsamine, and sparteine. In the dried root tinctures, the content of cytisine, N-methylcytisine, and sparteine varied slightly and the concentration of thermopsamine showed a threefold decrease. The level of cytisine in the tinctures was about 0.3 mg/ml. Conclusion. The homeopathic tinctures from wild indigo roots have been ascertained to contain cytisine, N-methylcytisine, sparteine, and the alkaloid thermopsamine previously found only in the aboveground part of the plant. The matrix tinctures from fresh and dried roots differ in the content of thermopsamine.

Keywords: 
wild indigo
Baptisia tinctoria (L.) Vent.
matrix tincture
alkaloids
cytisine
N-methylcytisine
sparteine
thermopsamine
HPLC

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