HPLC Determination of Taxol and Related Compounds inTaxusPlant Extracts

Abstract

A sensitive and reproducible HPLC method, using a Curosil G column and gradient elution, was developed for the routine analysis of taxol (I) and six related taxanes, 10-desacetyl-7-epi-taxol (II), cephalomannine (III), 10-desacetyl taxol (IV), baccatin III (V), 10-desacetyl-7-epi-baccatin III (VI), and 10-desacetyl baccatin III (VII) in Taxus plant extracts. The method was linear for taxanes I-VII within the concentration range tested of 0.1μg–2.4 μg injected. Purging and regeneration procedures were used which allowed more than 600 injections to be made onto the same column without the development of backpressure problems. The day-to-day variation in the peak area of taxanes I-VII was minimum (C.V. = 9.8%, 9.1%, 5.8%, 7.7%, 7.4% and 7.8% respectively, n = 12). Variation within a day in the peak area of taxanes I-VII was even less (C.V. = 1.5%, 1.3%, 1.4%, 1.4%, 1.4%, 1.5% and 1.5%, respectively, n = 4). The separation efficiency of the Curosil G column was compared to pentafluorophenyl (Taxil) and diphenyl (Supelcosil) bonded silica columns using 3 gradient elution systems.