780 FARMACIA, 2009, Vol. 57, 6 HPLC ANALYSIS OF CAROTENOIDS FROM SENECIO VERNALIS AND S. JACOBAEA (ASTERACEAE) GEORGE DAN MOGOŞANU1*, ADELA PINTEA2, LUDOVIC EVERARD BEJENARU1, CORNELIA BEJENARU3, GABRIELA RĂU4, HONORIUS POPESCU1 1Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytotherapy 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Zootechny and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3–5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania 3Department of Vegetal & Animal Biology 4Department of Organic Chemistry & Medicinal Chemistry 1,3,4Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2–4 Petru Rareş Street, 200349 Craiova, Romania *corresponding author:
[email protected] Abstract Through HPLC analysis, in two Senecio species (S. vernalis Waldst. et Kit. and S. jacobaea L.), carotenoid fractions have been determined for the first time. Therefore, in increasing order of the retention times, seven compounds have been identified and quantitative determined, as follows: neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein-5,6-epoxide, lutein, β-cryptoxanthin, α- and β-carotene. High amounts of lutein have been found in all Senecio extracts. Rezumat Pentru prima dată au fost analizate, prin HPLC, fracţiunile carotenoidice provenite de la două specii de Senecio (S. vernalis Waldst. et Kit. şi S. jacobaea L.). Astfel, în ordinea crescătoare a timpilor de retenţie, au fost identificate şi determinate cantitativ şapte componente, după cum urmează: neoxantina, violaxantina, lutein-5,6-epoxid, luteina, β-criptoxantina, α- şi β-caroten. În extractele de Senecio, luteina a fost preponderentă din punct de vedere cantitativ. Keywords: Senecio vernalis; S. jacobaea; carotenoids; HPLC analysis. Introduction Senecio vernalis Waldst. et Kit., spring groundsel and S. jacobaea L., tansy ragwort, of Asteraceae family, are native in Eurasia, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Northern Africa.