[Analysis and stability of atropine sulfate and scopolamine hydrobromide. 1. Qualitative detection of alkaloids in the presence of their decomposition products. 73. Contribution to the problem of the use of plastic receptacles for liquid pharmaceuticals].

The authors deal with the qualitative determination of tropane alkaloid salts (atropine sulphate and scopolamine hydrobromide) in aqueous solutions in the presence of their decomposition products using thin-layer chromatography. Aqueous solutions of these tropane alkaloid salts were tested for stability after storage in glass and polyethylene containers under various conditions (pH value, temperature, ultra-violet irradiation, oxidative effects). Besides tropine, apoatropine, alpha- and beta-belladonine, further decomposition products showing a basic reaction (and in part not yet identified) were detected. The stability of solid atropine sulphate was studied by means of differential thermal analysis and mass spectrometry.