HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF THE BIOLOGICALLY-ACTIVE PRINCIPLE HYPERICIN IN PHYTOTHERAPEUTIC VEGETABLE EXTRACTSAND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Hypericin was determined using an RP C-18 (3 mu m) column (8.3 x 0.4 c m I.D.), thermostated at 50 degrees C. The separation was achieved wit h programmed elution using phosphate buffer (pH 7)-methanol (3:7) and water-methanol (3:7) as eluents. Fluorimetric detection was carried ou t with excitation at 470 nm and emission at 590 nm. The analytical sam ple was prepared by simple dilution in methanol of the phytotherapeuti c extract or of the alcoholic beverage. Hypericin can be rapidly and a ccurately determined at concentrations down to 0.1 mg/kg without any i nterferences.