Quantitation of Catechin, Epicatechin, Quercetin and Kaempferol by Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection and Friedelin by Gas Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry in Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reiss Extracts

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Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reiss (espinheira-santa) is a plant native to South America, popularly used in the treatment of gastric disorders. A liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed using a C18 column and mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and 0.02% (v/v) trifluoracetic acid using gradient elution. Ultraviolet detection was performed at 270 and 369 nm. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed using a DB-5MS column and helium as mobile phase. Five samples of M. ilicifolia extracts were assayed by both methods, which were fully validated. Using the LC method, the quantified levels varied from 0.06 to 0.49% (w/w) for catechin and from 0.10 to 0.79% (w/w) for epicatechin. The maximum content of quercetin and kaempferol were 0.01 and 0.004% (w/w), respectively. Friedelin was quantified only in the hydroacetonic extract (0.98% w/w), by GC-MS. Both chromatographic methods showed to be reliable tools for the screening and quantitation of the main vegetal markers in M. ilicifolia herbal products.