Quantitative determination of furocoumarins in samples of "Carapia" by capillary gas chromatography

The occurrence of furocoumarins in the Moraceae has already been demonstrated. We present here the results concerning the chemical composition and quantification of furocoumarins from "carapia" (Dorstenia species, Moraceae) employed in Brazil because of its medicinal properties against skin diseases. A capillary gas chromatographic procedure is described for the simultaneous determination of the furocoumarins (psoralen, bergapten, pimpinellin, and isopimpinellin) in rhizomes and aerial parts of Dorstenia tubicina, Dorstenia asaroides and Dorstenia vitifolia and in commercial samples. The method is shown to be sensitive and reproducible, and may have application in the analysis of "carapia" crude drugs.