Quantitative Determination of Flavonoids and Triterpenoids in Sutherlandia frutescens by LC-UV, LC-ELSD Methods and Confirmation by LC-ESI-MSD-TOF

Sutherlandia frutescens is a component of South African herbal remedies traditionally used for stomach problems, internal cancers, diabetes, inflammatory conditions and recently to improve the overall health in cancer and HIV/AIDS patients [1,2]. This paper describes the first analytical method suitable for the determination of four flavonoids (Sutherlandin A, B, C, D) and four triterpenoids (Sutherlandioside A, B, C, D) in leaves of Sutherlandia frutescens. A separation by HPLC was achieved by using a reversed phase (RP-18) column, PDA with ELS detection, and a water/acetonitrile gradient as the mobile phase. The major triterpenoid compound was detected at a concentration as low as 5.0 µg/mL. The analysis of plant material and products showed considerable variation of 0.6–2.7% for the major terpenoid compound, sutherlandioside B. Acknowledgements: This research is funded in part by “Botanical Dietary Supplements: Science-Base for Authentication” funded by Food and Drug Administration grant number FD-U-002071-06 and “The International Center for Indigenous Phytotherapy Studies” funded by NCCAM, grant number 5 U19 AT 003264. References: [1] Stander BA, et al., (2007) Journal of Ethnopharmacology 112(2): 312–318 [2] Mills E, et al. (2005) Nutrition Journal 4: 19.

Fig. 1 PLC Chromatograms of a mixture of standards [Sutherlandin A (1), Sutherlandin B (2), Sutherlandin C (3), Sutherlandin D (4), Sutherlandioside B (5) Sutherlandioside C (6), Sutherlandioside A (7), Sutherlandioside D (8)] (A, C), leaves of Sutherlandia frutescens (B, D) by ELSD and UV detection at 260 nm