Convallatoxin (cardiac glycoside) dosage

Convallatoxin is a cardiac glycoside extracted from lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). A powerful natural compound, it affects cardiac contractility and is highly toxic when ingested in excessive amounts. Its laboratory measurement is therefore essential for assessing the safety of plant extracts and ensuring regulatory compliance of herbal products.

This analysis is carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) or by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS), two reference techniques for the identification and precise quantification of cardiac glycosides.

Interest in convallatoxin dosage

Cardiac glycosides such as convallatoxin must be strictly controlled to avoid any health risks. Their concentration can vary greatly depending on:

• the plant species analyzed
• the part of the plant used (leaf, flower, stem)
• the harvesting and drying conditions
• the extraction processes applied

Accurate dosage is essential for:

• assess the safety of natural products and food supplements
• detect possible contamination or abnormal concentrations
• standardize extracts of lily of the valley and other plants containing cardiotonic glycosides
• comply with regulatory requirements and ensure the conformity of marketed batches
• strengthen the traceability and transparency of products placed on the market

Analytical methods used

The dosage of convallatoxin is based on chromatographic and spectrometric techniques recognized for their reliability and precision:

• HPLC-DAD : separation of extract components and quantification using a diode array detector, providing specific analysis of glycosides.
• LC-MS/MS : more sensitive method to confirm the molecular structure of convallatoxin and detect its presence even at very low concentrations.

These approaches guarantee rigorous control and meet the needs of manufacturers, research laboratories and distributors of natural products.

Affected matrices

Convallatoxin dosage can be applied to different matrices:

• plant extracts (lily of the valley and other plants containing glycosides)
• dried plant powders
• natural products and nutraceutical formulations
• complex preparations containing several bioactive compounds

This analysis is suitable for both raw materials and finished products.

Industrial and regulatory applications

Convallatoxin control is crucial in several sectors:

• Nutraceuticals and food supplements : verification of product safety and conformity.
• Scientific research : identification of the mechanisms of action of cardiotonic glycosides.
• Plant industry : standardization and characterization of extracts.
• Consumer safety : prevention of risks linked to the toxicity of glycosides.

Thanks to reliable quantification, manufacturers and distributors can secure their products and demonstrate their compliance to the control authorities.

Additional analyses available

YesWeLab also offers other assays of glycosides and associated plant molecules, allowing the evaluation of natural extracts to be completed:

Digitoxin dosage
Scopolamine dosage
Atropine dosage

These complementary analyses provide a complete view of the toxic and bioactive profiles of plant extracts.

YesWeLab expertise

Since 2020, YesWeLab has been supporting manufacturers, distributors, and design offices in managing their laboratory analyses. Our digital platform centralizes requests, facilitates sample tracking, and ensures fast and clear results.

We work with a network of carefully selected partner laboratories, most of which are ISO 17025 certified and COFRAC accredited. This quality requirement guarantees reliable analyses, adapted to the specificities of the matrices and the analytical methods required.

Our scientific team remains available to support your projects, meet your regulatory constraints and optimize your quality control processes.