HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF TRIPTOLIDE AND TRIPDIOLIDE IN AN ETHYL-ACETATE EXTRACT OF TRIPTERYGIUM-WILFORDII HOOK-F

A new analytical method for the determination of triptolide and tripdi olide in ethyl acetate extracts of Triterygium wilfordii Hook F. is de scribed. The procedure consists of preliminary enrichment by Sep-Pak a lumina B cartridge chromatography followed by HPLC analysis. HPLC is p erformed with a stainless steel column packed with Nova-Pak C18, using acetonitrile-water ( 19 : 81 ) as a mobile phase for triptolide and a celonitrile-water ( 11 : 89 ) for tripdiolide. The effluent is monitor ed by ultraviolet detection at 214 nm. Quantitative analysis of tripto lide is then carried out by comparison to an internal standard, and of tripdiolide by the external standard method. The amounts of triptolid e and tripdiolide per 100 mo of the ethyl acetate extract were determi ned to be 19.88 ug and 9.58 ug respectively. The method is sufficientl y sensitive and specific to assay the diterpenes found in Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. accurately.