title: Methoxylated xanthones in the quality control of small centaury (Centaurium erythraea) flowering tops.
abstract: In the course of a phytochemical study of the bitter tonic plant, small centaury (Centaurium erythraea), six methoxylated xanthones (1,5-hydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone, 1-hydroxy-3,5,6-trimethoxyxanthone, 1-hydroxy-3,5,6,7-tetramethoxyxanthone, 1-hydroxy-3,5,6,7,8-pentamethoxyxanthone, 1-hydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyxanthone and 1,8-dihydroxy-3,5,6,7-tetramethoxyxanthone) were isolated and identified by spectroscopic means (nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectroscopy, and UV). Subsequently, a high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detection method was developed for the determination of these and other methoxylated xanthones occurring in the chloroform extract of small centaury aerial parts. The methodology developed was applied to twelve samples, and in all of them, nine xanthones were identified and quantified. This methodology can be considered complimentary to the one proposed by the European Pharmacopoeia.
authors.affiliation: CEQUP/Serviço de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, R. Aníbal Cunha, 4050-047 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentão
authors.forename: Paula B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Eurico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: M Lourdes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Seabra
mesh_terms: D029966:Centaurium / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D011786:Quality Control; D014966:Xanthenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D044004:Xanthones
chemical_list: D014966:Xanthenes; D044004:Xanthones; C009689:xanthone