Characterization of cantharidin extracted from the Egyptian blister beetle Meloe proscarabaeus (Meloidae)

The aim of the current study was to characterize the cantharidin extracted from the Egyptian blister beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus). Cantharidin was collected by electric shock method from adult blister beetles and it was characterized by FT-IR and TLC to determine its level of purity.The results showed an improved purity of the extracted cantharidin when compared to the crude blister beetle extract. These results indicated that the used purification resulted in an appropriate level of cantharidin purity.