Analysis of Phenolic Acids from Actaea spec. by Capillary Electrophoresis

The rhizome of Actaea racemosa L. (syn. Cimicifuga racemosa L.), Ranunculaceae, is used for the treatment of menopausal disorders. Regarded as well accepted alternative to standard hormone therapy, the increasing demand of black cohosh leads to overharvesting of the wildcrafted plant in the US. In Asia related Actaea spec. are cultivated and pharmaceutically used in TCM (e.g. A. dahurica, A. foetida, A. heracleifolia, A. simplex). Problems in sourcing of A. racemosa plant material and adulterations with those Actaea spec. used in TCM are the consequence, requiring a sound analytical system for quality control.

Whereas the pattern of triterpene glycosides is not eligible for a qualitative fingerprint, the phenolic acids (caffeic acid, ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, fukinolic acid and the cimicifugic acids A, B, D, E and F) provide a convincing tool in sample identification to distinguish between different Actaea spec. [1]. The latter cimicifugic acids from the rhizomes of A. racemosa were fractionated and identified according to [2] and [3].

A rapid method for the qualitative analysis of the phenolic acid fingerprint of methanolic extracts of the above mentioned Actaea spec. has been established on capillary electrophoresis (CE). Baseline separation of all phenolic acids was achieved on a 50µm capillary (70cm, 60cm to detector) with a 25mM borate buffer (pH 9.0) at 25 kV within 25 minutes, representing a time and solvent saving method for quality control and a sound alternative to HPLC.

References: 1. Kusano, G. (2001), Yakugaku Zasshi 121: 497–521. 2. Stromeier, S. et al. (2005), Planta Med. 71: 495–500. 3. Kruse, S.O. et al. (1999), Planta Med. 65: 763–764.