HPLC quantitative analysis of insecticidal didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline in Stemona collinsiae root extracts

Abstract

Introduction Stemona spp. have been traditionally used as natural pesticides and medicinal plants. Stemona collinsiae Craib has been of interest for its insecticidal activity, which has been supported by many scientific research studies. The roots contain didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline alkaloids as active components. Objective To develop and validate a HPLC method for the quantitative analysis of didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline in S. collinsiae root extracts. Methodology HPLC was carried out using a Hypersil BDS C 18 -column eluted with methanol:1 m m ammonium acetate (55:45) with a flow rate of 1 mL/min and detection at 295 nm. Method validation was performed to assure its linearity, precision, accuracy and limits of detection and quantitation. Results Didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline showed a linear relationship within the range of 0.5-432.4 and 0.5-188.4 μg/mL, respectively. The method was shown to be precise with RSD < 2%. The average recovery of didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline were 98.80 and 99.97%, respectively. Eight samples of S. collinsiae root extracts were analysed and the average contents of didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline were 0.78 and 0.048% w/w, respectively. Conclusion The HPLC method developed was appropriate for the analysis of didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline in S. collinsiae root extracts. This work would be useful as a guide for the standardisation of S. collinsiae root extract raw materials and their products as natural pesticides. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.