title: Cimicifuga species identification by high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array/mass spectrometric/evaporative light scattering detection for quality control of black cohosh products.
abstract: Black cohosh has become one of the most important herbal products in the US dietary supplements market. It is manufactured from roots and rhizomes of Cimicifuga racemosa (Ranunculaceae). Botanical identification of the raw starting material is a key step in the quality control of black cohosh preparations. The present report summarizes a fingerprinting approach based on high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array/mass spectrometric/evaporative light scattering detection (HPLC-PDA/MS/ELSD) that has been developed and validated using a total of 10 Cimicifuga species. These include three North American species, Cimicifuga racemosa, Cimicifuga americana, Cimicifuga rubifolia, and seven Asian species, Cimicifuga acerina, Cimicifuga biternat, Cimicifuga dahurica, Cimicifuga heracleifolia, Cimicifuga japonica, Cimicifuga foetida, and Cimicifuga simplex. The chemotaxonomic distinctiveness of the HPLC fingerprints allows identification of all 10 Cimicifuga species. The triterpene glycoside cimigenol-3-O-arabinoside (3), cimifugin (12), and cimifugin-3-O-glucoside (18) were determined to be suitable species-specific markers for the distinction of C. racemosa from the other Cimicifuga species. In addition to identification, the fingerprint method provided insight into chemical interconversion processes occurring between the diverse triterpene glycosides contained in black cohosh. The reported method has proven its usefulness in the botanical standardization and quality control of black cohosh products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research & Development, Naturex/Pure World Botanicals, Inc., 375 Huyler Street, South Hackensack, NJ 07606, USA.
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Guido F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Pauli
authors.forename: Bolin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Huikang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Naisheng
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Tangsheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roller
authors.forename: Qunyi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D031885:Cimicifuga / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*; D006027:Glycosides / Q000032:analysis; D007810:Lanosterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D008027:Light; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000592:standards; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011786:Quality Control; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: C478830:(23R,24S)-16,23-16,24-diepoxy-9,19-cyclolanostan-3beta,15alpha,25-triol; D006027:Glycosides; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014315:Triterpenes; D007810:Lanosterol