HPLC ANALYSIS OF ANTHRAQUINONE DERIVATIVES IN MADDER ROOT (RUBIN TINCTORUM) AND ITS CELL-CULTURES

A sensitive and reproducible RP-HPLC method was developed for the char acterization of madder root and its cell cultures extracts and for the determination of anthraquinone derivatives as glycosides (ruberythric acid, lucidin primveroside) and aglycones (alizarin, lucidin, purpuri n) in them. The fingerprint chromatographic patterns of the extracts w ere obtained on C-18 silica column, using gradient with acetonitrile-w ater-acidic buffer eluent system. For quantitative measurements, the a nthraquinone derivatives were separated by isocratic elution in the sa me type of mobile phase. The chief components were identified and quan titatively determined. The natural plant and its cell suspension cultu res were compared to each other. The preparative fractionation of the extracts was achieved by gel chromatography, HPLC and selective extrac tions with solvent series, solid-phase extraction techniques and SFE.