Detection of Nicotine in Equisetum arvense Grown Naturally in Iraq

Abstract

Equisetum arvense L, Family: Equisetaceae, common name hoarse tails. The plant is used traditionally to stop bleeding, heal ulcers and wounds, and treat tuberculosis and kidney problems. The new approach is the investigation of cytotoxic and anti HIV activities of this plant. The aerial part of the plant was extracted to investigate the presence of alkaloids in it. Powdered plant was macerated with 2N HCl overnight. The alkaloids were detected with Dragendorrf reagent and were found to be one spot. Investigation of the extracted alkaloids using GC/MS reveal the presence of nicotine as the single alkaloids found in the plant.