title: Analysis of sesquiterpenes in Valeriana officinalis by capillary electrophoresis.
abstract: A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method permitting the determination of the main sesquiterpenes in Valeriana officinalis has been developed. A separation of valerenic acid and its hydroxy and acetoxy derivatives, three compounds characteristic for the species, was achieved using a 40 mM phosphate-borate buffer at pH 8.5, which contained 10% isopropanol as organic modifier. Applied temperature and voltage were 35 degrees C and 17.5 kV, respectively. This setup allowed a baseline separation of the three compounds within 8 min, with a detection limit of 5.8 micrograms/ml or less. Out of six market products analyzed, only one contained a detectable amount of the marker compounds, with 0.54% of hydroxyvalerenic acid and 0.13% valerenic acid, respectively. The quantitative results were comparable to those obtained by HPLC.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Mississippi, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mikell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ganzera
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D002214:Capsules; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D012015:Reference Standards; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000032:analysis*; D013607:Tablets; D014632:Valerian / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013607:Tablets