Abstract
A novel high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is described for the determination of hygrine in leaves of Erythroxylum coca and Erythroxylum novo. The analysis was performed on a strong cation exchange HPLC column with a mobile phase consisting of MeOH: 0.1 M KH2HPO4, pH 7 (75%:25%, v/v) and a UV detector set at 220 nm. Recoveries of hygrine averaged about 64% from extracts fortified with 2.5 to 10.0 mg of hygrine per 10 ml of extract. Hygrine contents in leaves of E. coca and E. novo were determined as 0.09 and 0.10% of the dry weight, respectively.