Monoterpenoid alkaloid quantitation by in situ densitometry-thin layer chromatography

A simple and reproducible technique for the quantitation of the main monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from aerial tissues of Catharanthus roseus , based on in situ densitometry-thin layer chromatography, is described. The sensitivity of this method was enough to detect the amounts of ajmalicine, catharanthine, and vindoline present in 100 mg of dried leaf tissue and in different in vitro culture systems. The main advantage of this method is that it allows the proper separation of these alkaloids using a single solvent mixture, as well as the scanning of the corresponding spots at a single wavelength, reducing the number of chromatographic plates required and the time invested in the analysis.