Determination of total retronecine esters‐type hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in plant materials by pre‐column derivatization high‐performance liquid chromatography

A pre‐column derivatization high‐performance liquid chromatography method with diode array detection was developed and validated to determine the total retronecine esters‐type hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (RET‐HPAs) in herbs. The RET‐HPAs reacted with o‐chloranil in methanolic solution heated for 3 h, and an oxidative derivative was produced that could be detected at a maximal absorption of 223 nm. The analysis was performed using a C₁₈ column with an isocratic elution of methanol and aqueous 0.01% triethylamine (adjusted to pH 4 with formic acid), and the detection was carried out with DAD at 223 nm. The validation of the method included linearity, sensitivity, recovery and stability. It showed a good linear regression (r² > 0.9900) in the range of 2.5–250 µm with a limit of detection (S/N = 3) of 0.5 µm . The method provided desirable repeatability with overall intra‐ and inter‐day variations of less than 4.6%. The obtained recoveries for both of the extraction and derivatization process were between 94.6 and 100.7% (n = 3). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.