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Title: Simultaneous determination of sesquiterpenes and pyrrolizidine alkaloids from the rhizomes of petasites hybridus (L.) G.M. et Sch. and dietary supplements using UPLC-UV and LC-TOF methods

Author
item AVULA, BHARATHI - University Of Mississippi
item WANG, YAN-HONG - University Of Mississippi
item WANG, MEI - University Of Mississippi
item SMILLIE, TROY - University Of Mississippi
item KHAN, IKHLAS - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2012
Publication Date: 11/1/2012
Citation: Avula, B., Wang, Y., Wang, M., Smillie, T.L., Khan, I.A. 2012. Simultaneous determination of sesquiterpenes and pyrrolizidine alkaloids from the rhizomes of petasites hybridus (L.) G.M. et Sch. and dietary supplements using UPLC-UV and LC-TOF methods. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 70:53-63.

Interpretive Summary: The newly developed UPLC-UV and LC-TOF-MS methods were found to be capable for the simultaneous determination of sesquiterpenes and pyrrolizidine alkaloids from the roots of Petasites species and 21 dietary supplements that claim to contain P. hybridus. The analysis of commercially available petasin products demonstrate that only seven of 21 analyzed products contain the amount of petasins as labeled on the package and showed no PAs. LC-TOF-MS method was found to be more sensitive than LC-UV method for PAs. The developed methods are suitable for quality control analysis of commercial products.

Technical Abstract: Common Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe and northern Asia. Petasites hybridus exists in two chemo-varieties: those containing petasins and those with furano-petasins which have been reported to be effective in reducing the occurrence or severity of migraine headaches. The rhizomes of P. hybridus found to contain trace amounts of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) which have demonstrated a carcinogenic and mutagenic potential. Therefore, plants intended to be used for pharmaceutical purposes should below in PAs. UPLC-UV and LC-TOF-MS methods have been developed for the analysis of major sesquiterpenes and pyrrolizidine alkaloids from rhizomes of Petasites hybridus (L.) G.M. et Sch. (Family, Asteracea) and dietary supplements claiming to contain P. hybridus.