The liquid extract(ergotamine) was prepared according to the Finnish Pharmacopeia VII
90% and 70% alc were used as the solvent. as preservative, either 1% ascorbic acid or 0.064% scorbic acid was added before percolation or in the freshly prepped ext. The extractions were stored in closed containers in the dark at room temp. Storages after 3, 6, and 11 weeks, and solutions with ascorbic acid were investigated after 6 months. (paper chromatography, Na2SO4 was used to eliminate the scorbic or ascorbic acid ).
Scorbic acid did not improve storage, but ascorbic acid is a good stabilizer.
Ergotamine stored minus the alc or ascorbic acid contained 40% ergotamine after 3 weeks, and 15% of the original amount after 6 weeks.
The best method for storage established is 90% alc and 1% ascorbic acid added to the freshly prepared extraction.
Farm. Aikakauslehti, Irja Rautiainen 1961
