Colorimetric assay of reserpine in formulations and biological fluids

Two colorimetric methods are presented for determining reserpine. In the first method, an iron hydroxamate complex is formed through the ester group in position 16 in the reserpine molecule. The color is measured at 535 nm (0.5-6 mg/25 ml). This method is useful for routine and control analyses of reserpine formulations. In the second method the tertiary amino group of reserpine reacts with 2% citric acid in acetic anhydride to form a red-violet complex which is measured at 505 nm (5-400 mug/10 ml). This method could be useful in measuring trace amounts of reserpine present in biological fluids.