Elder flower is used in scientific medicine by a lot of countries as a diaphoretic remedy. Herb raw material "Elder flower" consists of the dried flowers of Sambucus nigra L. The flavonoids are the main group of biological-active compounds of this herb and precisely for this reason the identification of authenticity of herb raw material is carried out by using chromatography [1]. At the same time any flavonoids can't determine the similar pharmacological activity (diaphoretic action). It is known also that one of the secondary metabolites synthesized in Sambucus nigra is cyanoglucoside (sambunigrin). Sambunigrin can be hydrolized by using acid or enzyme and as a result the cyano-groups evolve which have the diaphoretic action.
The aim of this work was research and determining of cyanoglucoside amount in herb raw material. The collected inflorescences were dried up and crushed. Then the water extraction has been taken from the researched samples. At the following stage the cleaning from carbohydrates has been made and the received filtrate was subjected to acid hydrolysis. After hydrolysis picric acid was added and solution was heated on the boiling water bath for 15 minutes
.Later on UV-spectra was investigated (see Fig 1)
Fig .1 UV-spectra researched solution (─) and standard cyanid-ion (- - -)
UV-spectra of the investigated solution and of standard sample of cyanid-ion are close and have a characteristic maximum of absorption at 495 nm. Using the calculating formula given in work [2] it has been established that the amount of cyanoglycosides in flowers of elder has totaled 23,0±5.0 ppm.
Reference:
1. British herbal pharmacopeia. 4th edition - 1996, BHMA.-212p.
2. Rezaul Haque M., Howard Bradbury J. Total cyanide determination of plants and food using the picrate and acid hydrolysis method// Elsevier., - Food chemistry 77 (2002) .- pp.107-114