High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of molluscicidal saponins from Phytolacca dodecandra (Phytolaccaceae).

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of oleanane saponins in Phytolacca dodecandra (Phytolaccaceae), a plant with potent molluscicidal properties. The molluscicidal monodesmosidic saponins of the berries were determined at 254 nm as their 4-bromophenacyl derivatives, whereas the non-derivatized bidesmosidic saponins, lacking a free carboxyl group, were determined at 206 nm. A comparison of different extraction procedures showed that with cold water predominantly monodesmosidic saponins were obtained, whereas hot water gave mainly bidesmosidic (non-molluscicidal) saponins.