A new normal phase liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of limonoids in Citrus

A normal phase, gradient, analytical high performance Liquid chromatographi c method has been developed for the analysis of a broad range of neutral li monoids which are present in Citrus seeds. The method features high sensiti vity, Kith better specificity and resolution of limonoids than a previous n ormal phase method. The chromatographic media is 5 mu spherical silica and employs a gradient mixture of cyclohexane and tetrahydrofuran as the mobile phase. The method is applied to the separation of limonoids present in see ds from representative species of Citrus and Fortunella and from seeds of t ao Citrus/Fortunella hybrids. Analytical results of these seed samples reve al limonoid patterns of parent and progeny which indicate the potential of the method to define limonoid profiles in Citrus for use as a chemotaxonomi c tool to aid plant breeders and taxonomists. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.