Colorimetric Determination of Cortisone and Related Ketol Steroids

Abstract

With the advent of the commercial production of cortisone rapid, accurate, and sensitive methods were needed for the quantitative and qualitative determination of this product in order to control plant production, dosage in pharmaceutical preparations, and body levels of this important ketol steroid. A colorimetric method based on the reducing properties of the ketol moiety in tetrazolium salts was investigated. A method is presented by which as little as 10 micrograms of cortisone or related ketol steroids can be determined and by obvious modifications much smaller quantities detected. This analytical procedure has been of help in production, control, and research on steroids. © 1952, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.