An HPLC-DAD method was validated for the quantification of chlorogenic acid (CA), total flavonoids (TF) and flavonolignans (FL) following the ICH guidelines [2]. Fourteen authentic Cecropia leaf samples collected in Panama and three commercial products were analyzed. The chemical composition of different species was compared by principal component analysis (PCA).
Validation parameters of the method for CA, TF and FL were satisfactory. Specificity was defined for each analyte. An adequate linear response was obtained for all analytical curves (r2 >0.999). All relative standard deviations (%RSD) for repeatability and intermediate precision were lower than 2 and 5%, respectively. Accuracy, expressed as the recovery, varied from 98 to 102% for all concentration levels. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were on the scale of nanogram per milliliter (ng/mL).
Analysis of the samples showed qualitative and quantitative differences in their chemical composition. Both analytical results and PCA revealed chemical similarities for C. obtusifolia, C. peltata, C. insignis and C. hololeuca, which contains mostly C-glycosyl flavones and C,O-glycosyl flavones, while C. hispidissima showed to be different due to the high content of O-glycosyl-flavonols (Fig. 1).
This study serves as a useful tool for the quality control of herbal supplements of Cecropia species and the subsequent interpretation of their related pharmacological effects.
References
[1] Rivera-Mondragón A, Ortiz OO, Bijttebier S, Vlietinck A, Apers S, Pieters L, Caballero-George C. Pharm Biol 2017; 55:1500-1512.
[2] International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Re gistration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, Validation of Analytical Procedures: Text and Methodology Q (R1), 2005; 1-13.