Colorimetric determination of aconitine in galenicals and in biological samples.

A sensitive method is presented for determining aconitine. Aconitine is complexed with Co2+, the aconitine-cobalt complex is extracted with chloroform, and the absorbance is measured at 320 nm. The sensitivity of the method ranged between 0.06 and 3 mg/25 ml, and the color was stable for 6 hr. The method was successfully applied for the quantitative determination of aconitine in animal tissues.