Dragendorff test

Sawada and coworkers 2 have reported preliminary studies on the induction of callus tissues from Aconitum ibukiense var. eizaenense Nakai. The production of alkaloids by these callus tissues was indicated by a positive Dragendorff test of the weak base fraction of an extract. These studies are significant in that such methods might be useful for the production of alkaloids from rare species of plants. 

Dragendorff test A presumptive test for alkaloids. The Dragendorff reagent has two solutions. One is bismuth nitrate in acetic acid. This is followed by a sodium nitrate solution. Alkaloids are indicated by a reddish-brown deposit. 

Dragendorff test A color test reagent and TLC developer based on ion pairing with bismuth-iodide complexes. 

Positive alkaloid tests are apt to be due to the fonnation of complexes of nonalkaloidal constituents with the Dragendorff reagent alkaloids are not known in the family. 

TLC Dissolved in methanol Silica Chloroform-methanol- Dragendorff USP 23 limit test erythro [5]... 

Dragendorff Reagent (test), 133 Dragendorff spray, 1169 Dralzine, 662 Dramamine, 549 Dramion, 640 Dramocen, 549 Drauxin, 403 Drazoxolon, 83... 

Table 1 summarizes the alkaloid producing species found in Malaysia. The plants are listed systematically under family, genus and species. The alkaloids were detected by the Mayer or Dragendorff reagents or by TLC of an alkaloidal extract followed by detection with the Dragendorff reagent. The test results are cited as strong (s), medium (m), weak (w) or just (+) in cases where a positive result was obtained but no attempt was made to estimate the relative amount. The plant parts examined are abbreviated as follows L (leaves), B (bark), S (stem), Wd (wood), Sd (seed), F (fruit), FI (flowers), R (root) and W (whole plant). It is evident from examination of these results as well as from the subsequent chemical studies that have followed that alkaloid rich species predominate in the Families Annonaceae, Apocynaceae and Rubiaceae and to a lesser extent in Lauraceae, Menispermaceae, Verbanaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Rutaceae. 

M, Meyer s test W, Wagner s test T, TLC (Dragendorff s and/or Iodoplatinate spray reagent) Q, quaternary alkaloids. 

The methanol extract prepared from the flowers of Sphaeranthus indicus (Compositae) was separated into nine fractions, all of which gave positive tests with Dragendorff s reagent, indicating the presence of alkaloids. Fraction five contained two compounds, both of which are cyclopeptide alkaloids whose structures are tentatively given as 81 and 82 (65). 

The alkaloids readily give a precipitate with Dragendorff s reagent, a concentration of 6 p.p.m. being just detectable. Meyer s reagent, on the other hand, is a very insensitive test (44). 

A sensitive method for the detection and quantitation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids based on stoichiometric reaction of protonated alkaloids with methyl orange may be useful, as these alkaloids sometimes give poor tests with Dragendorff s reagent (Birecka et al., 1981). Most give good tests with... 

Various other tests can be done on the phospholipid and sphingolipid mixtures as discussed in Fried and Shapiro (1979). These tests should be tried on natural products run along with standards. For an excellent discussion of additional specific chemical detection tests for lipids, see Kates (1986). Other suggested detection procedures that can be tried with phospholipids are the choline (Dragendorff), sphingolipid (Bischel and Austin), and a-naphthol (Siakatos and Rouser) tests, all as described in Kates (1986). 

Analytical Approach Heroin samples follow the typical flowchart approach from presumptive tests to confirmation by instrument, usually by GCMS, since the presence of other alkaloids makes it difficult to purify the sample sufficiently for IR. Thin-layer chromatography can be particularly useful in separating components of a complex heroin sample and, coupled with the appropriate standards and developers, can assist in identification of specific compounds. Marquis and Dragendorff reagents are commonly used for the purpose. 

Procedure Qualitative Test for Nonionic Surfactants Using Modified Dragendorff Reagent (45). 

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