Comparison of different HPLC systems for analysis of galantamine and lycorine in various species of Amaryllidaceae family

Retention parameters of galantamine and lycorine standards were determined on different columns, i.e., octadecyl silica, SM C18, and strong cation-exchange (SCX) columns with different aqueous mobile phases. Retention of alkaloids was investigated on C18, SM C18 columns with mobile phase containing 5% MeCN, 20% acetate buffer at pH 3.5, and 0.025 ML−1 diethylamine (DEA), and on SCX column with mobile phase containing 8% MeCN and phosphate buffer at pH 2.5. Better results were also obtained in ion-exchange chromatographic system. On the basis of results obtained in different chromatographic systems, simple, rapid, and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography methods were developed for determining lycorine and galantamine in plant extracts from various species belonging to Amaryllidaceae family. Extracts were prepared from various parts of plants collected at different times of the growing season.