Determination of lycorine of Sternbergia candida by HPLC

Amaryllidaceae is one of the most widely used medicinal plant family [1]. Sternbergia candida Mathew & T. Baytop (Sc) is an endemic member of the family from Mugla, Turkey [2]. Lycorine is the major alkaloid of Sternbergia species. HPLC analysis of the bulbs of the species has been done previously [3]. In this study, it is aimed to determine the lycorine in chloroform and methanolic extracts of both bulbs (SCBC: SCBM) and leaves (SCLM) of Sc by HPLC. The analysis was performed with a shorter column (3µm, C18 150mm x 3mm) in a gradient solvent system without acetonitrile (A: 97.5% 10 mM ammonium bicarbonate with 2.5% methanol; B: 2.5% 10 mM ammonium bicarbonate with 97.5% methanol pH: 7.8) with a flow rate of 0.3ml/min. The results are given in Table 1. Lycorine was found in the leaves of the plant however it was higher in the methanolic extract of the bulbs.

HPLC analysis of lycorine of Sternbergia candida

Sample	RT	RSD% RT	Area	%RSD Area	mg/g
Scbc	26.46	0.03	11.81	2.25	0.59
Scbm	26.46	0.03	23.80	1.45	0.63
Sclm	26.47	0.01	2.87	2.91	0.30

(Scbc: Sc bulb chloroform extract; Scbm: Sc bulb methanolic extract; Scbm: Sc leaves methanolic extract) (n=3).

Acknowledgement: This work was supported by grants of Ernst Mach Grants; authors are thankful to Ernst Mach Grants and OEAD for the supports given.

References: 1. Calderon AI et al. (2010) Pharm Biol 48(9): 988–993.

2. Davis PH (1984) Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, Vol. 8, 363.

3. Citoglu GS et al. (2008) Chem Nat Comp 44: 6.