Phytochemical Analysis of Veratrum Alkaloids in Medicinal Veratrum Globules Using High-Performance Liquid...

Veratrum L. species have been used in traditional medicine for centuries due to their bioactive properties, yet they also contain toxic steroid alkaloids that pose potential health risks when present in herbal preparations. Reliable analytical approaches are therefore essential to ensure product safety, protect consumer health and assess toxicological evaluations. This study presents the development, validation, and application of a highly sensitive analytical method to determine alkaloid levels in commercially available Veratrum globules. Five Veratrum alkaloids (cevadine, jervine, protoveratrine A, veratramine, and veratridine) were analyzed in 10 different Veratrum globules (Veratrum album L.: D2, D3, D4, D6, D12, D30, D200; Veratrum viride var. viride: D6, D12, D30) utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Jervine contents were successfully quantified in V. album L. globules with decreasing concentration in potencies D2 (25 ng/g), D3 (2 ng/g) and D4 (0.2 ng/g). These findings demonstrate that the applied method enables the precise identification and quantification of toxic alkaloids in highly diluted preparations. The results contribute significant data for the toxicological assessment of herbal products and highlight the critical role of advanced analytical control in ensuring the safety and quality of herbal medicines, thereby helping to prevent potential health risks to consumers.