Serotonin isolation from coffee wax - by hydrolysing an alcoholic solution of coffee wax with aqueous strong base

摘要

Serotonin is sepd. from coffee wax by subjecting a soln. of coffee wax (pref. decaffeinated coffee wax) in a water-immiscible alcohol (pref. isobutanol) to alkaline hydrolysis under an inert atmos. using an aq. soln of a strong base (pref. KOH), and sepg. off the serotonin-contg. reaction medium. Serotonin (5-hydroxy-3-(2-aminoethyl)indole) plays an important part in cerebral metabolism and can be used as a medicament having vasoconstrictive, antihypertensive, antiallergic, antipsychotic, antimigraine and antitobacco properties. The method provides a simple and economical procedure for isolating serotonin from coffee wax (the fatty skin which surrounds green coffee beans), which contains considerable amts. of serotonin bound in amide form to fatty acids.