Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Oleandrin from Milkweed?

Rhodanide - 26-5-2017 at 05:16

Hi all, I was wondering if it was possible to do a solvent extraction of Oleandrin from Milkweed. We've got it scattered around here quite plentifully, and after doing research I found it contains the same toxins as Oleander. Would Acetone work? Ethanol? Toluene? I haven't found any articles after glancing over the search results, and I thought you guys over here in the Biochem thread might know a thing or two that I don't.
Thanks!


-T/Azide

Metacelsus - 27-5-2017 at 04:57

I would try a Soxhlet extraction with isopropanol first. I found a patent describing the extraction from oleander ( https://www.google.com/patents/US3833472 ) but I'm not sure it would apply for milkweed.

An interesting alternative might be to extract it from insects (like caterpillars) that feed on milkweed and retain the toxic glycosides.

Texium - 27-5-2017 at 06:30

Huh, might be an interesting project to try sometime. I have a couple big oleander bushes in my front yard. The caterpillar idea is really neat, but when I think of actually trying that, the image of lots of mushed up caterpillars is rather disgusting!

Rhodanide - 27-5-2017 at 11:22

Quote: Originally posted by zts16  
Huh, might be an interesting project to try sometime. I have a couple big oleander bushes in my front yard. The caterpillar idea is really neat, but when I think of actually trying that, the image of lots of mushed up caterpillars is rather disgusting!




I can agree 100% with the caterpillar part. Plus, just catching and collecting either caterpillars or butterflies would be much, much more time consuming than simply harvesting the plants which contain it. Are you down south? We don't have any Oleander up here, at all...

[Edited on 27-5-2017 by Tetra]

[Edited on 27-5-2017 by Tetra]

Texium - 27-5-2017 at 11:28

Yeah, I'm in Texas, as you can see from my Location ;)