Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) for rapid analysis of Dipsacus sylvestris HUDS. (Dipsacaceae) and differentiation from other Dipsacus species

The biennial Dipsacus sylvestris HUDS. (Dipsacaceae), introduced to Europe in antiquity, grows to a basal rosette with a strong tap root in its first year of cultivation, followed by the flowering period in the second year. Significant constituents are phenolic acids, flavonoids [1], iridoids and bis-iridoids [2]. In opposite to the well-established Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plant Dipsacus asperoides CHENG., D. sylvestris has mainly historical usage. To characterize possible antiinfectious compounds [3] different extracts of Dipsaci sylvestris radix were analysed by TLC, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) allowing the differentiation from the TCM drug. Especially MECC (λ=234nm; borate buffer 45 mM, SDS 20 mM, pH 9.4) yields typical fingerprint electropherograms mainly consisting of iridoids and phenolic acids (Figure). MECC results were comparable to HPLC measurements and showed reproducibility of peak areas and relative migration times.

Fig.1: MECC of MeOH extracts of Dipsacus sylvestris (black)/D. asperoides (grey)

Acknowledgements: Leipzig University, Sabine Liebold, Lothar Hennig

References: 1. Plouvier, V. (1966) Compt. Rend. Serie D 262: 1368–1371.

2. Jensen, S.R. et al. (1979) Phytochemistry 18: 273–277.

3. Liebold, T. et al. (2008) Planta Med 74: 995.