Analysis of Molecular Marker Compounds from Vitexagnus cactus Using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Evaporative Light Scattering Detector Techniques

Abstract

Dried whole plant of Vitexagnus cactus was extracted with organic solvents in different ratios and analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with evaporative light scattering (ELS) detector. The markers of interest in Vitexagnus castus were agnuside, casticin and vitexyl acetone. These standard molecular markers do not contain strong chromophores, hence it is difficult to identify them using the UV detection system in high performance liquid chromatography. ELS detector is regarded as a valuable alternative to UV detection system for identification of the compounds that do not contain strong chromophores. The results of the present study show that the ELS detection system is more efficient than the UV-visible detection system. Key words: Vitexagnus castus , evaporative light scattering detector, high performance