title: Analysis of sesquiterpene lactones, lignans, and flavonoids in wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mass spectrometry, reversed phase HPLC, and HPLC-solid phase extraction-nuclear magnetic resonance.
abstract: Today, the medicinal use of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is enjoying a resurgence of popularity. This study presents a specific and validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detection method for the simultaneous determination and quantification of bioactive compounds in wormwood and commercial preparations thereof. Five sesquiterpene lactones, two lignans, and a polymethoxylated flavonoid were baseline separated on RP-18 material, using a solvent gradient consisting of 0.085% (v/v) o-phosphoric acid and acetonitrile. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min, and chromatograms were recorded at 205 nm. The stability of absinthin was tested exposing samples to light, moisture, and different temperatures. Methanolic and aqueous solutions of absinthin were found to be stable for up to 6 months. This was also the case when the solid compound was kept in the refrigerator at -35 °C. In contrast, the colorless needles, when stored at room temperature, turned yellow. Three degradation compounds (anabsin, anabsinthin, and the new dimer 3'-hydroxyanabsinthin) were identified by HPLC-mass spectrometry and HPLC-solid-phase extraction-nuclear magnetic resonance and quantified by the established HPLC method.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52c, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aberham
authors.forename: Serhat Sezai
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cicek
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stuppner
mesh_terms: D031171:Artemisia absinthium / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D056148:Chromatography, Reverse-Phase / Q000379:methods; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017705:Lignans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D007783:Lactones; D017705:Lignans; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes