UHPLC–MS quantification of coumarin and chlorogenic acid in extracts of the medicinal plants known as guaco (Mikania glomerata and mikania laevigata)

Abstract

In Brazil, Mikania glomerata Spreng. and M. laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Baker, Asteraceae, known popularlyas guaco, are widely used for colds and asthma. Although coumarin is adopted as the chemical markerof both species, it was not always detected in M. glomerata, for which chlorogenic acid was identifiedand quantified instead. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a method to quantify bothcoumarin and chlorogenic acid and apply it to extracts of plants identified as M. glomerata, M. laevigata, oras guaco, to determine the pattern of composition of these two species and to observe differences betweenoven-dried and lyophilized leaves. A method using ultra-high resolution liquid chromatography–massspectrometry (UHPLC–MS) in the full scan mode was validated for selectivity, matrix effect, linearity, lim-its of detection and quantification, precision and accuracy. The concentration of coumarin varied betweenspecies and samples, therefore these two species should not be used interchangeably. The concentrationof chlorogenic acid was also determined for all samples. The UHPLC–MS method permitted the quantifi-cation of coumarin and chlorogenic acid in 16 samples of guaco and several commercial samples werepossibly misidentified.