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Chemotaxonomic study of feverfew

A chemotaxonomic identification of the herbal remedy Chrysanthemum parthenium (feverfew) and its reported adulterants Chrysanthemum vulgaris (tansy) and Chamomile vulgaris (German chamomile) has been undertaken. An initial survey investigated the distribution of phenolic compounds in the plants using a RP-HPLC diode-array system. A chemometric analysis of the data distinguished feverfew from its adulterant German chamomile, though tansy was ambiguous. In the light of these findings, the GLC of essential oils and in particular the reported active ingredient parthenolide, were used as alternative fingerprinting markers. Conventional extraction techniques were investigated but were considered unsuitable. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was extensively examined and successfully yielded the claimed active ingredient. The determination of the essential oil content of the plants enabled feverfew to be unambiguously identified from both adulterants. The technique was sufficiently sensitive to assign authenticity to feverfew products. During this study a detailed investigation was made of the SFE conditions required to give complete extraction and recovery of the terpenes from a model matrix and from the plant material.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:292719
Date January 1990
CreatorsBurford, Mark Derek
PublisherLoughborough University
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Sourcehttps://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/33067

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