PACKED-COLUMN SUPERCRITICAL-FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY OF SESQUITERPENE LACTONES WITH DIFFERENT CARBON SKELETONS

The analyses of eighteen different C-skeleton sesquiterpene lactone (S L) standards and of extracts of Cardus benedictus L. and Artemisia umb elliformis Lam. were carried out by SFC-UV. SLs of the groups of germa cranolides, guaianolides, eudesmanolides, seco-eudesmanolides and hele nanolides were investigated. Different stationary phases, different de nsities, several modifiers and modifier programmes were applied in ord er to optimize their separation. A CN stationary phase with MeOH-water (95:5) as modifier for supercritical CO2 was the most successful comb ination in the separation of the SLs investigated. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience B.V.