High pressure liquid chromatographic separation of furocoumarins in Heracleum laciniatum

Furocoumarins from chloroform extraction of Heracleum laciniatum were separated by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with microparticulate silica gel column investigating different concentrations of acetonitrile and water, acetonitrile and methanol and acetonitrile, methanol and water for mobile phase. With a mixture of 42:43:15 of the latter for mobile phase optimal separation was obtained of the 6 furocoumarins from the plant. Removal of lipid fractions of plant extractions with hexane is recommended to avoid damage to the HPLC column.