Abstract
Determination of Aconitum alkaloids in processed Buza (Cho-0, Salted Buza, Moist-heating Buza, Limed Buza), which had been prepared from the raw tubers of Aconitum chiisanenseb(Ranunculaceae), was established using visible spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method especially for Aconitine analysis. Aconitum alkloids were reacted with tetra- thiocy-anatocobalt[II] complex ion to form a stable ion pair. The reaction product was insoluble in water but freely soluble in several organic solvents. 1.2-Dichloroethane was the best extracting solvent among the examined solvents. Spectrophotometry of Aconitum alkaloids at nax. 625 was carried out. The HPLC method for aconitine was carried out using Radial PAK-CN column with gradient solvent system by solvent mixture of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer (pH 3.0) at 4$0^{\circ}C$ and 254 nm. Linear relationship was found between absorbance response and concentration of aconitine in range of 0.45 mM~0.9 mM ($r^2$=0.9949) by spectrophotometry and 0.3 mM~1.2mM($r^2$=0.9983) by HPLC method. These methods have been found to be suitable and reproducible for routine analysis of Aconitum alkaloids and its pharmaceutical preparations.