A rapid capillary electrophoresis procedure was developed for determining the anti-cancer components, camptothecins, in Nothapodytes foetida. The hydrophobic compound was extracted from plant tissue (ca. 1 mL of DMSO for 100 mg of dried plant tissue) with a water-miscible organic solvent, DMSO, at elevated temperature (60 degrees C). The extract was directly injected into the separation capillary (untreated fused silica, 34 cm in length, 75 microm i.d.) and analysed in MEKC mode (369 nm). Within 5 min of migration, camptothecins were successfully separated and quantified by adding organic modifiers to the running buffer (20% DMSO, 90 mm SDS in 10 mm borate buffer, pH 8.60). The linear dynamic range for camptothecin was from 5 to 400 microg/mL. This method was proven to be very suitable for monitoring the amount of camptothecins during the cultivation of the medicinal plant.
Copyright 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.