Determination of the alkaloids in Evodiae fructus by capillary electrophoresis

A total of ten Evodia alkaloids was separated successfully by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). The MECC method based on SDS was applied to analyze three indolequinazoline alkaloids (evodiamine, rutaecarpine and carboxyevodiamine) and six quinolone alkaloids (1-methyl-2-nonyl-4(1H)-quinolone, 1-methyl-2-[(Z)-6- undecenyl] -4(1H)-quinolone, 1-methyl-2-undecyl-4(1H)-quinolone, evocarpine, 1-methyl-2-[(6Z,9Z)-6,9-pentadecadienyl]-4( 1H)-quinolone and dihydroevodiamine) in 15 min and CZE technique was used to determine the dehydroevodiamine in 5 min. Linearity over one order of magnitude of concentration was generally obtained and limits of detection for the alkaloids were in the range of 35-47 mu g/ml. The relative standard deviations were less than 4% (n=6). Contents of Evodiae alkaloids in a methanol-water extract of Evodia fructus sample could easily be determined by this method. The effects of pH, surfactant concentration and organic modifier concentration of the carrier on the migration behaviour of the solutes are discussed.