A simple and rapid method for identification and determination of cordycepin in Cordyceps militaris by capillary electrophoresis

Cordycepin is the main active metabolite of Cordyceps inifitaris extracts; according to recent studies it has interesting therapeutic activities. A new capillary electrophoresis, (CE) procedure with UV detection at 254 nm for determination of cordycepin was developed and optimized. Optimal conditions found were 20 mM sodium borate buffer with 28.6% methanol, pH 9.5, separation voltage 20 kV, hydrodynamic injection time 10 s and temperature 25 degrees C. Linearity was found over the 20-100 mu g/mL concentration ranges of cordycepin. The developed method has been applied for determination of cordycepin in various pharmaceutical products. A comparison was made between CE and a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Both of these methods gave comparable results. The shorter analysis time and low running cost are the main advantages of CE method. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.