Planta Med 2009; 75(4): 381-386
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1088384
Analytical Studies
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Quantitative Determination of Triterpenoids and Formononetin in Rhizomes of Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) and Dietary Supplements by Using UPLC-UV/ELS Detection and Identification by UPLC-MS

Bharathi Avula1 [*] , Yan-hong Wang1 [*] , Troy J. Smillie1 , Ikhlas A. Khan1 , 2
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Received: July 8, 2008 Revised: October 3, 2008

Accepted: October 30, 2008

Publication Date:
05 December 2008 (online)

Abstract

A UPLC-UV/ELSD method has been developed for analysis of major triterpenoids and formononetin in Actaea racemosa L. (family Ranunculaceae) samples. The best results were obtained with an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 (100 mm × 2.1 mm, i. d., 1 μm) column system using gradient elution with a mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile:methanol (7 : 3) at a constant flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Owing to their low UV absorption, the triterpene saponins were detected by evaporative light scattering. Within 5.5 minutes, three main triterpenoid glycosides [cimiracemoside A, 23-epi-26-deoxyactein, and actein] and an isoflavonoid, formononetin, could be separated, with detection limits of 5, 5, 10, and 0.01 μg/mL, respectively. The method was successfully used to analyze different Actaea racemosa market products as well as to distinguish between two other Actaea species. There was a significant variability in the amounts of the selected triterpene glycosides for the products containing black cohosh and rhizomes of black cohosh. The isoflavone formononetin was not detected in the samples analyzed. LC-MS coupled with the electrospray ionization (ESI) interface method is described for the identification of formononetin and triterpenoid glycosides in plant samples and dietary supplements that claim to contain black cohosh and different species of Actaea.

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1 Authors share equal contribution.

Dr. Ikhlas A. Khan

National Center for Natural Products Research

Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences

The University of Mississippi

University

Mississippi 38677

USA

Phone: +1-662-915-7821

Email: ikhan@olemiss.edu

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