HPLC fingerprint spectrum analysis of alkaloids in Arecae Semen

Tóm tắt

Arecae Semen, the dried ripe seed of Areca catechu L. (Arecaceae), is an important medicinal material widely used in traditional medicine throughout Vietnam and other Asian countries. Alkaloids are recognized as the characteristic bioactive constituents of Arecae Semen and played a crucial role in its quality evaluation. However, variations in geographical origin and harvest maturity may result in considerable differences in alkaloid composition, leading to inconsistency in the quality of commercial materials. To establish and validate a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint method based on characteristic alkaloid constituents for the comprehensive quality evaluation of Arecae Semen samples collected from different cultivation regions in Vietnam. Thirty batches of Arecae Semen samples were collected from major cultivation areas across Vietnam. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a BEH Amide column using gradient elution with acetonitrile and 0.2% phosphoric acid containing 0.2% triethylamine, and UV detection was performed at 210 nm. Four characteristic alkaloids, namely arecoline, guvacoline, arecaidine and guvacine were employed as reference compounds for peak assignment and fingerprint characterization. Similarity analysis was subsequently applied to assess chemical consistency among samples. The validated method demonstrated satisfactory precision, repeatability, and stability, with retention-time RSD values below 3.0%. Most ripe Arecae Semen samples exhibited high fingerprint similarity values (> 0.90), indicating consistent alkaloid profiles, whereas immature samples showed significantly lower similarity values, reflecting substantial variations in alkaloid composition. The combination of chromatographic fingerprinting with four reference alkaloids offers an effective strategy for quality control and may provide a scientific basis for the establishment of future pharmacopoeial standards for Arecae Semen.