AN EASY RAPID METAL MEDIATED METHOD OF ISOLATION OF HARMINE AND HARMALINE FROM PEGANUM HARMALA

Abstract

Mercury (II) ions, when added to alcoholic extracts of harmala seeds, selectively precipitate harmine (Hm) and harmaline (Hl) as their complexes (Hg-Hm and Hg-Hl). From these, Hm and Hl can be recovered by subsequent treatment with H 2 S. This method of isolation is relatively simple, economical and rapid