i e y , M. D a r w i s h S a y e d , S. M. A b d e l W a h a b and I?. M. S o l i m a n In previous communications (E 1 k i e y et al. , 1965, 1966) a phytochemical investigation of the Adonis species growing in Egypt, namely A. dentata Del., and A. autumnalis L i n n e was presented. k-Strophanthin-B, cymarin, strophanthidin, adonitoxin, acetyladonitoxin, and strophadogenin (16-hydroxystrophanthidin) were separated and identified in A. dentata; while only k-strophanthin-B, cymarin, strophanthidin and acetyladonitoxin were separated and identified in A . autumnalis. Moreover, a polyhydroxy alcohol, adonitol, was

Separation of khellin from visnagin and other chromones, coumarins and khellolglycoside in alcoholic and petroleum ether extracts of the fruits of Ammi visnaga was achieved using T. L. C. A micro-method for the estimation of khellin in the presence of other constituents of Amnli visnaga fruits is described aud depends on separation of khellin from other constituents, elution of separated khellin in the chromatogram.and estimating it in the eluate colourimetrically using sulfuric acid. The reproducibility of the method was proved.G 11 a r b o (1958) also suggested a gravimetric method depending on the purifi-Downloaded by: Chinese University of Hong Kong. Copyrighted material. Balbaa u. Mitarb., Estimation of Khellin 1968, Heft 3.

A b d e l-W a h a b and H. M. N i a z i lntroduction Acokanthera spectabilis H o o k. F. is a highly poisonous plant containing cardiac glycosides having a digitalis-like action (C o x , 1959). Recent work revealed that the isolated cardenolides have also an anticarcinogenic effect (Ka p a d i a and Z a 1 u c k y , 1968). Employing paper chromatography, K a p a d i a (1965) separated 8 cardenolides from the leaves of the plant. D e W i l d e m a n (1946), stated that the leaves and fruits of the plant contain sterols, but no tannins, alkaloids or flavonol and have given negative haemolysis test. For the sake of a further phytochemical investigation of A. spectabilis, this work was carried out on the different organs of the plant growing in Egypt. Experimental Plnnt material The different organs of Acokanthern spectahilis viz. roots, stems, stem bark, wood, leaves, flowers, pericarp and seeds obtained from the Experimental Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Guiza, were dried in hot air oven a t 5S0, reduced t o No. 36 powder and kept in tightly closed dark glass containers. Authentic reference mnterial T h e following reference samples were supplied through the courtesy of the respective sources.