Identification of Sanguinarine (Benzophenanthridine Alkaloid) : Rapid Detection of Agremone Oil in Mustard Oil

摘要

Argemone mexicana seeds are a rich source of oil (～30%), similar to mustard oil in density, colour and even in odour, and therefore is used as a cheap adulterant of oil. But argemone oil causes epidemic dropsy. It is known that the alkaloid sanguinarine and dihydro sanguinarine present in the argemone oil are responsible for the toxicity of this oil. Sanguinarine Fig. 1 (A) is a red-coloured benzophenanthridine alkaloid.