Black beetle extract

The separation was carried out at ambient temperature with a solution of D20/acetonitrile-d3 (60 40, v/v) as eluent. A flow rate of 1.5 pl/min was applied and the injection was performed by filling up the 5 xl injection loop with the black beetles extract and switching on the valve for 90 s under a back-pressure of about 478 psi. 

As a typical example, the cHPLC-NMR separation of an extract of black beetles is shown in Figure 7.3.2.3. The methanolic extract was prepared from the vessels of one hundred black beetles (Palembus ozularis) by Marit Wahren-dorf at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology (Prof. Dr. Michael Wink) in Heidelberg, Germany [16]. These insects are found in South America and their vessels contain anti-inflammatory compounds which can act against asthma. As the extract was received with a non-deuterated solvent, before the injection into the chromatographic system, the solvent was evaporated and then methanol-d4 was used to dissolve the dry extract. 

Figure 7.3.2.3 Continuous-flow cHPLC-NMR chromatogram (600 MHz) obtained for the separation of an extract of black beetles...

Nimuendaju (158) observed the preparation of Tikuna curare four times. The principal ingredients were evidently similar to those indicated by Krukoff, but the making took over a week, for during the concentration phase the extract was not allowed to come to the boil as this would result in the loss of strength. Just before the final stage of the concentration, 6-8 black beetles were thrown into the pot where they exuded a foetid yellow secretion they were removed after about an hour. 

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