Computer-assisted, high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection for the analysis of coumarins in Peucedanum palustre and Angelica archangelica

A reversed-phase HPLC method with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation MS detection has been developed for the separation and identification of coumarins in plants of Peucedanum palustre L. (Moench) and Angelica archangelica (L.) var. archangelica. The Turbo Method Development(R) program was utilised to optimise the mobile phase with two organic solvents (acetonitrile and methanol) and two aqueous solutions (1.0% formic acid and 10 mm ammonium acetate). Optimisation of the solvent gradients for the method was performed with the aid of the DryLab(R) program. Analyses were carried out using a Phenomenex Prodigy(R) RP C-18 column. Fifty-two peaks (14 of which were associated with coumarins) were separated in 30 min from extracts of P. palustre, and 48 peaks (15 associated with coumarins) from extracts of A. archangelica. A total of 21 different coumarin-type compounds were identified in the aerial and the underground parts of the title plants. Isopimpinellin and pimpinellin were found for the first time in P. palustre and were identified by comparison of retention times and MS data obtained following the analysis of pure standards. This is the first report of the coumarin composition of the umbels of P. palustre. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.