An improved high performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantification of solasodine

An improved isocratic high performance liquid chromatographic method for th e quantification of solasodine, an alternative precursor for the commercial production of steroid drugs, is reported. A highly sensitive and reproduci ble assay for solasodine quantification was achieved using a base-deactivat ed C-8 column and an acidic mobile phase. Sharp symmetrical peaks were obta ined and a linear relationship between the amount of solasodine injected an d the area under the peak was achieved. The method allows the simultaneous identification and quantification of solasodine in plant tissue samples at amounts as low as 0.40 mu g, and reports the actual amounts of solasodine i n the sample rather than the "solasodine equivalents" as determined by prev iously published methods. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.