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Planta Med 2001; 67(5): 447-450
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-15824
Original Paper
Analysis
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Improved Method for the Determination of Oxindole Alkaloids in Uncaria tomentosa by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Markus Ganzera1 , Ilias Muhammad1 , Riaz A. Khan1 , Ikhlas A. Khan1, 2,*
  • 1 National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 2 Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
Further Information

Publication History

July 4, 2000

October 29, 2000

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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Abstract

This Paper describes an improved HPLC method for the determination of pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids in Uncaria tomentosa (Cat's Claw). Six of the isomeric compounds could be baseline separated at room temperature within less than 30 min by using 3 μm C-18 column material and a mobile phase consisting of 10 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 and acetonitrile. At a wavelength of 245 nm all standard compounds could be detected at concentrations as low as 0.63 μg/ml. Different samples of U. tomentosa bark and market products containing Cat's Claw were extracted with a modified procedure ensuring the integrity of the alkaloids and analyzed successfully. The results indicated accuracy and consistency of the new method, and showed variations in the total alkaloid content in products from 0.156 to 0.962 %.

Key words

Uncaria tomentosa - Rubiaceae - oxindole alkaloids - HPLC

References

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Dr. Ikhlas Khan

NCNPR

University of Mississippi

University

MS 38677

USA

Email: rikhan@olemiss.edu

Fax: 01-662-915-7989

Phone: Phone: 01-662-915-7821