Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

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DETERMINATION OF ASCORBIC ACID IN SHOOTS FROM DIFFERENT CONIFEROUS SPECIES BY HPLC

VALERIA RADULESCU1, DIANA-CAROLINA ILIES*1, ION VOICULESCU2, IOVU-ADRIAN BIRIŞ2, ADAM CRACIUNESCU3

1Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
2Forest Research and Management Institute, 128 Eroilor Blv., 077190 Voluntari, Ilfov, Romania
3National Forest Administration-Romsilva, 9A Petricani Street, 010325 Bucharest, Romania

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The stability of ascorbic acid (AA) in different aqueous solutions was studied for the development of optimal methods and procedures for the HPLC analysis of this compound in young shoots with needles of conifers. The best extraction solvent that offered the maximum stability of AA was aqueous 0.5% acid oxalic. The chromatographic separation was carried out on Lichrosorb RP-18 column using as mobile phase: 95% NaH2PO4 0.05 M (aqueous solution) adjusted to pH 3.6 and 5% methanol. The method proposed was applied to the analysis of AA in shoots samples of five coniferous species: silver fir (Abies alba Mill.), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco), European larch (Larix decidua Mill. ssp. carpathica (Dom.) Siman), Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.), and black pine (Pinus nigra Arn. ssp. nigra). In order to evaluate the dynamics of AA accumulation in young shoots with needle during the growing season, from buds sprouting in spring until the end of growing period in autumn, the samples were harvested in three distinct moments: on May the 17th, July the 11th and October the 7th (2011). For four of the five species studied the highest content of AA was determinated in samples collected in October: 301.5 mg in Picea abies, 275.1 mg in Pseudotsuga menziesii, 231.3 mg in Pinus nigra and 158.8 mg in Abies alba (per 100 g dried weight).