Optimization of the capillary electrophoretic separation of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids by an overlapping resolution mapping scheme

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A 1998-07, Vol.814 (1), p.223-231
• Main Authors: Sun, Shao-Wen, Wu, An-Cheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaloids; Analytical chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Bisbenzylisoquinolines; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Exact sciences and technology; General pharmacology; Medical sciences; Other chromatographic methods; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments
• ISSN: 0021-9673
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-9673(98)00416-6

The micellar electrokinetic chromatographic (MEKC) separation of eight bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBI) alkaloids, aromoline, berbamine, colorflammine, homoaromoline, isotetrandrine, obamegine, tetrandrine and thalrugosine, was optimized by using the overlapping resolution mapping (ORM) scheme. Three critical parameters of the electrophoretic media, i.e. surfactant (sodium cholate), organic modifier (acetonitrile) and pH, were chosen for optimization, with their working ranges being appropriately defined. Seven experiments were conducted to obtain the overlapped resolution diagram from which the area of maximum separations could be located. Using the conditions of a point in this area, the eight BBI compounds were baseline separated within 20 min. The elution order of the compounds was found to be related to their lipophilicity. The resolution, run time, efficiency and the limits of detection of the MEKC method were compared with those of the high-performance liquid chromatography method developed previously.