The rapid estimation of strychnine in tincture of nux vomica BP by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Strychnine is separated from other alkaloids in nux vomica tincture in less than 6 min on a 12.5 cm Hypersil column using a mobile phase of methanol, 2 M ammonium hydroxide, M ammonium nitrate (27:2:1), uv detection at 254 nm. Quantitative estimation may be obtained by comparing peak area or height against an external standard (0.150% w/v strychnine base in 45% ethanol). The results obtained were comparable to those obtained by the BP method which takes 5 h.