Optimization of the extraction conditions and quantification by RP-LC analysis of three alkaloids in Zanthoxylum nitidum roots.
BACKGROUND
A classic traditional Chinese medicine, Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC. widely used in China, exhibits anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antianalgesic activities. Alkaloids are one of the main bioactive components. It is urgent to develop a simple and reliable method to determine the main alkaloids in Z. nitidum roots.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the three alkaloids in Z. nitidum roots, a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RP-LC) method combined with an optimum extraction condition was established.


METHODS
A method involving four-factor-three-level orthogonal array design including the extracting solvent and the RP-LC condition was assayed. Twenty batches were collected from different areas of the Guangxi Province at different harvesting times. The determined alkaloids were nitidine chloride (NC, 1), ethoxychelerythrine (2) and liriodenine (3). The stable mobile phase was a C18 packing, and the mobile phase was acetonitril-aqueous phosphoric acid-triethylamine-buffer solution.


RESULTS
The optimum extraction and detection conditions have been determined in the process of quantification of Z. nitidum root alkaloids. The three alkaloids were detected simultaneously in the 20 batches of samples. The results clearly showed that alkaloid concentrations differed significantly among Z. nitidum collected from various collection areas.


CONCLUSIONS
We have established an optimum extraction and detection conditions in the process of quantification the three alkaloids in Z. nitidum roots. From this research, the most influenced factor on Z. nitidum roots was the collecting location, and the next factor was the harvesting time. The collecting location and the harvesting time should be considered as the high-quality medicinal herbs factors.
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University , Nanning , PR China .
Huagang
H
Liu
Jie
J
Feng
Kan
K
Feng
Maoxiang
M
Lai
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001060:Aporphines / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D053119:Benzophenanthridines / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002681:China; D056148:Chromatography, Reverse-Phase; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018517:Plant Roots; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D032106:Zanthoxylum / Q000737:chemistry*
C579537:6-ethoxychelerythrine; D000470:Alkaloids; D001060:Aporphines; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C013615:nitidine; C026980:liriodenine