Analytical Profile of Papaverine Hydrochloride

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the papaverine hydrochloride. Its trade names are Artegodan; Cardover; Cerebid; Cerespan; Diapav; and Kavrin. Papaverine is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid. The structure of which was established by Goldschmiedt and Co-Workers in 1883-1888. Papaverine is optically inactive alkaloid. It does not contain any chiral center. Papaverine crystallizes as rhombic prisms from ethanolether mixture or colorless needles from chloroformpetroleum ether mixture. It is odorless and has a bitter taste. Papaverine hydrochloride crystallizes as monoclinic rods from water. It may occur as white or almost white crystals or a white or almost white crystalline powder. Papaverine melts at 147°. Papaverine is almost insoluble in water, sparingly soluble in cold ethanol, soluble in chloroform, hot ethanol, acetone and hot benzene. The crystal structures of papaverine and papaverine hydrochloride have been determined by X-ray diffraction technique.