Microstructure, content and in vitro release of brucine and strychnine in Strychnos nux-vomica powder with different particle sizes

Abstract

To explore the effect of particle size on the quality uniformity and in vitro release performance of Strychnos nux-vomica powder, seven samples of Strychnos nux-vomica powder with different particle sizes were prepared. Microstructures and particle sizes were analyzed, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to test the contents and in vitro release performances of brucine and strychnine in the samples. Results showed that the contents and the in vitro release rates of brucine (or strychnine) in different samples were different since there are different proportions of endosperms to epidermal cells in Strychnos nux-vomica powder with different particle sizes. Brucine and strychnine in each sample were promptly released in the first ten minutes and their cumulative release rates were higher than 70% after ten minutes. Eighty minutes later, the cumulative release rate tended to be a constant. Considering the quality uniformity and safety of Strychnos nux-vomica powder used as traditional Chinese medicine, it would be better to control the particle size of Strychnos nux-vomica powder between 100 and 140 mesh in which the maximum cumulative release rate in vitro of brucine and strychnine can be relatively low within this range.

Keywords

strychnos nux-vomica / brucine / strychnine / particle size / quality uniformity / in vitro release

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