HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION AND DETERMINATION OF DIASTEREOMERIC ANTHRONE-C-GLUCOSYLS IN CAPE ALOES

Isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography using reversed-phase packing (C18) and the solvent system methanol-water (1:1) was successf ul in separating and determinating the anthrone-C-glucosyls in Cape al oes, allowing a rapid and high resolution of each diastereomer for the first time. By applying this method to fifteen commercial Cape and Ea st African aloes of different origin, all Cape aloes samples showed th e same anthrone-C-glucosyl pattern comprising 5-hydroxyaloin A, aloins A/B and aloinosides A/B. For differentiating non-official East Africa n aloes from Cape aloes, 5-hydroxyaloin A proved to be the most specif ic marker of the official drugs in high-performance liquid and also th in-layer chromatography, replacing the aloinosides. Previous assumptio ns of chemical races of Aloe ferox MILL. based on the aloinosides have to be revised.