Effect Of Preparation Method Of Semen Strychni Powder In Yaotongning Capsule On Its Quality And Dissolution In Vitro

In order to study the effect of particle size and preparation way on the content and release rate in vitro of brucine and strychnine, which are active (also toxic) components of semen strychni powder in Yaotongning capsule, a series of samples of semen strychni powder were made as follows:semen strychni powder with different particle sizes (sample set 1), semen strychni powder prepared by crushing mixture of processed semen strychni and low proportion of frankincense and myrrh (sample set 2), semen strychni powder prepared by crushing mixture of processed semen strychni and high ratio of frankincense and myrrh (sample set 3) and sample 4 which was made by crushing mixture of processed semen strychni and powder of frankincense and myrrh. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods for determining brucine and strychnine were established. The microstructures of all samples were examined by scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The oar method was used to test the dissolution in vitro of burcine and strychnine of all samples in artificial gastric juice.It is shown that the morphology compositions and contents of brucine and strychnine in semen strychni powder samples of sample set 1 with different particle sizes are different. And there are significant difference between contents of brucine and strychnine in some samples of sample set 1. When particle size of semen strychni powder is controlled in the region of 100-200 mesh, the contents of brucine and strychnine vary little. SEM images demonstrate that frankincense and myrrh adhered to the surface of semen strychni powder in sample set 2～3 and sample 4. The adhesion is stronger with increasing the quantity addition of frankincense and myrrh. Sample 1:1 in sample set 3 has the same proportion of frankincense, myrrh and processed semen strychni with sample 4, but the crushing way of the two samples are different. There is no significant difference between their SEM images. The dissolving experiment in vitro show that brucine and strychnine stopped releasing after 80min in sample set 1～2. For sample set 3 and sample 4, the release time of brucine and strychnine is 240min. The result indicates that crushing mixture of processed semen strychni and high ratio of frankincense and myrrh can delay the release time of brucine and strychnine 160min.