Qualitative and Quantitative LC Profile of Embelin and Rapanone in Selected Lysimachia Species

Qualitative and quantitative determination of the pharmacologically active benzoquinones, embelin and rapanone, in different organs of eight Lysimachia species has been conducted by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. An analytical Hypersil BDS C-18 column and a mobile phase of water containing 0.1% v/v H₃PO₄ and acetonitrile (10:90) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹ were used. UV detection was at 286 nm. The recovery of the method was 81.5% for embelin and 80.5% for rapanone. Good linearity (r > 0.999) was obtained for both compounds. The leaves of L. ephemerum had the highest amount of rapanone (1.69%) while the roots of L. punctata had the highest amount of embelin (1.28%).