Analysis of cucurbitacins in medicinal plants by high-pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

HPLC-MS (electrospray ionization or atmospheric pressure chemical ionizatio n) was applied to the analysis of cucurbitacins in medicinal plants. High m olecular weight plant constituents were separated from cucurbitacins by gel chromatography of the crude methanolic extracts. HPLC was performed on a Z orbax SB-C-18 column using a 0.01% trifluoroacetic acid:acetonitrile gradie nt and diode array detection. The method described was sensitive, and its a pplicability was demonstrated through the determination of cucurbitacins in a number of medicinal plants such as Citrullus colocynthis (Cucurbitaceae) , Bryonia cretica ssp, dioica (Cucurbitaceae), Gratiola officinalis (Scroph ulariaceae), Picrorhiza kurroa (Scrophulariaceae) and Iberis umbellata (Bra ssicaceae). Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.