Validated method for bioactive lignans in Schisandra chinensis in vitro cultures using a solid phase extraction and a monolithic column application.

A simple and rapid method for determination of six lignans found in plant cell cultures of Schisandra chinensis was developed and validated. The lignans were extracted from plant samples with methanol and the extracts were effectively cleaned by solid-phase extraction using Strata C18-E (Phenomenex) cartridges. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Chromolith Performance RP-18e monolithic column (100 x 4.6 mm, Merck) using an isocratic mobile phase of acetonitrile and water in a 50:50 (v/v) ratio. The eluent was monitored at 220 nm. The baseline separation of schizandrin, gomisin A, deoxyschizandrin, gamma-schizandrin, gomisin N and wuweizisu C was achieved in a relatively short time period (20 min), which was made possible by the relatively high flow rate of the mobile phase (2 mL/min). The lower limit of quantitation was 0.1 mg/L for schizandrin and gomisin A, 0.3 mg/L for deoxyschizandrin, gamma-schizandrin, and gomisin N and 1 mg/L for wuweizisu C. The analysis of spiked samples containing six lignans provided absolute recoveries between 93 and 101% in all cases. The validated method was successfully applied to the determination of lignans in embryogenic plant cell cultures of Schisandra chinensis.