[Oscillographic polarography of the alkaloid dolicotheline and several related imidazole derivatives].

Oscillographic polarography in an alkaline medium has shown that the alkaloid N-isovalerylhistamine appears as an expressive wave of the adsorption character in the cathode portion of the curve. This makes it possible to detect it at concentrations up to 10(-6) g/ml. Histamine, histide, isovaleric acid, N-acetylhistamine and imidazole produce no such an effect. A definite correlation has been noted between the toxic action of the compounds studied and their behavior on a mercuric drip electrode during oscillographic polarography. In the alkaline medium the neurotoxic compounds manifest themselves by an adsorption wave in the cathode portion of the curve, while the structurally related compounds (not toxic) do not produce such an effect.