Determination of new immunoadjuvant saponin named QB-90, and analysis of its organ-specific distribution in Quillaja brasiliensis by HPLC

• Published in: Natural product research 2013-05, Vol.27 (10), p.907-910
• Main Authors: Fleck, Juliane D., de Costa, Fernanda, Yendo, Anna C.A., Segalin, Jéferson, Dalla Costa, Teresa C.T., Fett-Neto, Arthur G., Gosmann, Grace
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Immunologic - chemistry; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - methods; HPLC; Indexing in process; Plant Leaves - chemistry; QB-90; Quillaja; Quillaja - chemistry; saponins; Saponins - chemistry; seedlings
• ISSN: 1478-6419; 1478-6427
• DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2012.666751

An LC method was developed and validated in order to quantify the saponin purified fraction named QB-90 obtained from the aqueous extracts of Quillaja brasiliensis leaves. Previously, QB-90 was shown to be active as adjuvant in an experimental vaccine for herpesvirus bovine type 1 in mice. The analysis was performed using an RP-8 column with acetonitrile:water isocratic elution at 214 nm. The standard curve for QB-90 was linear over the range of 0.8-10 µg mL −1 (r = 0.9996). The aqueous extract showed linear response in the range of 50-1000 µg mL −1 (r = 0.9996). The proposed method showed adequate repeatability and intermediary precision. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.074 and 0.248 µg mL −1 , respectively. This method was applied successfully to analyse QB-90 organ-specific distribution in field stands of Q. brasiliensis and in laboratory-grown seedlings. Leaves from young plants accumulated higher QB-90 amounts than leaves from adult trees.