A validated reverse-phase HPLC analytical method for the quantification of phenolic compounds in Baccharis dracunculifolia.
BACKGROUND
Baccharis dracunculifolia, which has great potential for the development of new phytotherapeutic medicines, is the most important botanical source of the southeastern Brazilian propolis, known as green propolis on account of its color.


OBJECTIVE
To develop a reliable reverse-phase HPLC chromatographic method for the analysis of phenolic compounds in both B. dracunculifolia raw material and its hydroalcoholic extracts.


METHODS
The method utilised a C(18) CLC-ODS (M) (4.6 x 250 mm) column with nonlinear gradient elution and UV detection at 280 nm. A procedure for the extraction of phenolic compounds using aqueous ethanol 90%, with the addition of veratraldehyde as the internal standard, was developed allowing the quantification of 10 compounds: caffeic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, aromadendrin-4'-methyl ether, isosakuranetin, drupanin, artepillin C, baccharin and 2,2-dimethyl-6-carboxyethenyl-2H-1-benzopyran acid.


RESULTS
The developed method gave a good detection response with linearity in the range 20.83-800 microg/mL and recovery in the range 81.25-93.20%, allowing the quantification of the analysed standards.


CONCLUSIONS
The method presented good results for the following parameters: selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness, as well as limit of detection and limit of quantitation. Therefore, this method could be considered as an analytical tool for the quality control of B. dracunculifolia raw material and its products in both cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies.
de Sousa
João Paulo B
JP
Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
da Silva Filho
Ademar A
AA
Bueno
Paula C P
PC
Gregório
Luiz E
LE
Furtado
Niege A J C
NA
Jorge
Renata F
RF
Bastos
Jairo K
JK