To directly separate and purify highly pure pilocarpine at a low cost from a plant belonging to the genus Pilocarpus by a specific highly simple means.
This method for separating and purifying pilocarpine comprises extracting the leaves of a plant belonging to the genus Pilocarpus in the family Rutaceae with water and/or an organic solvent, concentrating the extract, and subsequently subjecting the concentrated extract to column chromatography at least twice. The plant belonging to the genus Pilocarpus is preferably Pilocarpus jaborandi or Pilocarpus microphyllus. Different kinds of the chromatography are preferably used on the separation and the purification. The first column chromatography is preferably ion exchange chromatography or adsorption chromatography. A filler for the column chromatography is preferably an ion exchange resin, a cellulose ion exchange resin, etc. A filler for the second column chromatography is preferably silica gel, alumina, activated carbon, etc., especially alumina.
SAKAKIBARA IWAO
YANO SHINGO
