The conessine content of Holarrhena pubescens from Malawi

Abstract

Qualitative and quantitative examination of conessine in the bark and leaves of samples of Holarrhena pubescens Wall. from Malawi was carried out using thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography. The results were compared with values obtained by the same methods for a sample of H. pubescens bark from Nepal. No conessine could be detected in the leaves but two of the bark samples from Malawi showed levels of conessine comparable with the Nepalese material. The GC method was more accurate but the TLC method could be adopted as a useful method for an unsophisticated analysis of samples where GC apparatus was not available.