Extraction and Industrial Preparation of the Alkaloids

The roots of Rio Ipecac always contain more than 2% of total alkaloids. Carr and Pyman (13) reported 2.7% total alkaloids from which they obtained 1.35% pure emetine and 0.25% cephaeline. The following table is borrowed from Hesse (14). 

Numerous recent analyses of Rio roots (Mato Grosso) indicate at least 2.5% total alkaloids which are roughly distributed as follows  

3% is emetine (53) but roots younger than 4 years contain less and are not acceptable in the pharmacopoeas. The identification and falsification have been given some attention (2, 54). The pharmacopoeas give assay methods, the Swedish one requiring a minimum of 2.3% alkaloids of which 75% must be emetine. Analytical methods have been discussed in considerable detail (55-62). 

The commercial isolation of the alkaloids differs in no essential feature from that employed for other alkaloids. Owing, however, to the toxic nature of the roots, all handling and grinding operations must be conducted so that the eyes, the respiratory tract, and the hands of the operators are protected. The dusts produce severe conjunctivitis, asthma, and painful infiammations at the base of the finger nails. There is also some evidence of the acquisition of hypersensibility. 

According to a French patent (655,312) cephaeUne can be 0-methyl-ated without effecting jV-methylation by heating it at 130-140° with phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide. The reaction mixture is made faintly add and the generated dimethylaniline extracted with petroleum 

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