HPLC/DAD analysis of phenolic compounds from lavender and its application to quality control

A reversed phase HPLC procedure is proposed for the determination of eight phenolic compounds (2-O-glucosilcoumaric acid, o-coumaric acid, rosmarinic acid, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, coumarin, herniarin, luteolin, and apigenin) in lavender. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a reversed-p hase Spherisorb ODS 2 (5 mu m particle size: 25.0 x 0.46 cm) column. From t he several extractive solvents assayed, only ethanol was able to extract al l the mentioned compounds. Best resolution was obtained using a gradient of water-formic acid (19:1) and acetonitrile. Ten samples were subjected to q uantification, all of them showing a common composition pattern.