High performance liquid chromatographic determination of alkaloids from Vinca minor L.

Fourteen alkaloids from Vinca minor L. were separated and their concentration determined by high performance liquid chromatography using Separon SGX C18 with a mobile phase of methanol:water (0.02 mol/L NH 4 Cl, pH 8.2 adjusted with Et 3 N). The major alkaloids of the leaves were vincamine (0.13%), 1,2‐dehydroaspidospermidine (0.06%) and vincaminoreine (0.028%). The dominant alkaloid of the root was 1,2‐dehydroaspidospermidine (0.28%). The bisindole alkaloid vincarubine was found only in the leaves (0.007%).