Sawsan El-Masry

SESQUITERPENE LACTONES FROM CHRYSANTHEMUM CORONARIUM

Abstract The flower heads of Chrysanthemum coronarium afforded a new sesquiterpene lactone, dihydrocumambrin A, in addition to the known cumambrin A.

Two eudesmanolides from Sonchus macrocarpus

Abstract The aerial parts of Sonchus macrocarpus afforded, in addition to known triterpenes, two new eudesmanolides.

Two guaianolides from cichorium pumilum

Abstract The roots of Cichorium pumilum afforded two new guaianolides, 10β-hydroxyguaia-4,13-dien-6,12-olide and the corresponding 11β,13-dihydro derivative which could be separated only after transforming the methylene lactone into the corresponding pyrazoline. The structures were elucidated by 400 MHz 1 H NMR spectroscopy. The chemotaxonomic situation is discussed briefly.

SESQUITERPENE LACTONES FROM SONCHUS MACROCARPUS

Abstract Eight sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the roots of Sonchus macrocarpus. The eudesmanolides 15-hydroxy-4β, 15-dihydroreynosin and 15-hydroxy-4β, 15, 11β, 13-tetrahydroreynosin were isolated for the first time.

Metabolomics driven analysis of Erythrina lysistemon cell suspension culture in response to methyl jasmonate elicitation.

Graphical abstract

A note on the assay of atropine sulphate injections

During a study on the stability of some batches of atropine sulphate injections, the U.S.P. XVII and B.P. 68 methods of assay were compared. Samples of three commercial batches of atropine sulphate injections (U.S.P. XVII), having pH values between 5.2 and 6.0, were subjected to autoclaving for 1 to 6 h. These injections were then assayed by the two methods (Table 1). The B.P. method gave, for all the samples examined, higher results compared with the U.S.P. method. Batch C, which showed by the U.S.P. method about 50% decomposition, gave about 36% decomposition by the B.P. method (Table 1). This particular batch revealed, on using a thin-layer chromatography system, * two spots corresponding to atropine and tropine; the former gave an orange colour and the latter a deep violet colour with dilute potassium iodobismuthate solution. It was concluded, therefore, that the hydrolytic product tropine may interfere in the B.P. method. Tropine, chromatographically pure, was analysed following the U.S.P. and B.P. methods of assay of atropine sulphate injections. The results (Table 2) showed that tropine interferes in the B.P. method; the plot is linear and has a slope of 1-52 indicating the constant contribution due to tropine. The latter in a concentration of 20.3 mg% (corresponding to 100% hydrolysis of atropine sulphate) gave by the B.P. method the equivalent of 30.6 mg% of atropine sulphate. In the U.S.P. method, however, the effect due to