A facile method for detection of the genuine sapogenin from a saponin extract

We present a simple, efficient system for preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in sodium dodecyl sulfate. The instrument features a novel sample collection assembly which is fitted directly onto the bottom of the gel cylinder. Buffer pumped uniformly upward through a porous plastic disk from the lower tray sweeps the emerging sample into a collection system with high efficiency. Measures which prevent the destruction of tryptophan residues and the blockage of α-amino groups observed in electrophoresed polypeptides are described.