Planta Med 2010; 76 - P688
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1265864

Proposal of qualitative determination of Taxus baccata L. Homeopathic tincture by applying HTLC and LC/MS procedures

B Gehrmann 1, P Vignolini 2, A Romani 2, M Melzig 3
  • 1Einhorn-Rats-Apotheke, Markt 10–12, 25813 Husum, Germany
  • 2Università di Firenze, Departement of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Florence, Italy
  • 3Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Pharmacy, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany

Taxus baccata L., yew, a sacred tree of pre-Christian druids in England, grows up to 17m of height with a trunk having a diameter of over 1m. The dioecious plant is native to Europe as far as Sicily and Minor Asia. In homeopathy ethanolic tinctures of the leaves are employed in the treatment of mal digestion and skin pustules. The homeopathic tincture is monographed in the German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (HAB 2009) [1, 2, 3].

Optimizing analytical investigations for improved HAB monographs a rapid and qualitative TLC determination as well as a qualitative LC/MS procedure is proposed. TLC was performed by using different sorbens materials and mobile phase mixtures applying a horizontal chamber (plates 5×5cm, ca. 2ml of mobile phase, 10–20µL of homeopathic tincture, 2–6µL of sample solutions, 3–4min). By using further reference substances (baccatin III, 10-deacetylbaccatin III, cephalomannine; kaempferol, quercitin, myricitin) the tested homeopathic tincture could be more clearly described. LC/MS procedures are not yet applied for identification in the HAB monograph. The purpose of the work has been the quali-quantitative analysis by HPLC/DAD/MS of Taxus extract in order to characterize polyphenols compounds. Five flavonoids are found, in particular quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (0,378mg/mL) and kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside (0,05mg/mL) are identified as the main flavonols as previously being reported by Krauze-Baranowska [4]. Additionally three cinnamic acid derivatives are detected.

References: 1. Brendler, Th., Grünwald, J., Jänicke, C. (eds.) (2003) Herbal Remedies, medpharm, Scientific Publishers, Stuttgart.

2. Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis (2006) Springer, Heidelberg.

3. Deutsches Homöopathisches Arzneibuch (HAB 2009), Monograph Taxus baccata (Edition 2000).

4. M. Krauze-Baranowska. Z. Naturforsch. (2004), 59c, 43–47.