Chromatographic and degradation studies of frangula emodin

Abstract

Frangula emodin, (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methyl-anthraquinone), is one of the anthraquinone derivatives found abundantly in the roots and bark of a number of plant families traditionally used to treat constipation and haemorrhoids. However, to be used as a herbal medicinal product within the European Union, reliable analytical techniques are needed to serve as the basis for proving the quality, safety and efficacy of medicinal products containing this active ingredient. The present study describes the development and subsequent validation of both as Assay and Stability Indicating Method Reversed Phase-HPLC methods for the quantitative determination of emodin and its related substance. The separation was achieved on a Waters Symmetry C18, 4.6 x 250 mm, 5 um particle size, column at a temperature of 35 degrees C, with UV detection at 287 and 436 nm for the Assay method and 287 nm for the Stability Indicating Method.