Application of high-performance liquid chromatography to the determination of vinblastine in Catharanthus roseus

A method for the determination of vinblastine in Catharanthus roseus by HPLC is described. A crude alkaloid extract, obtained by extraction of leaves with toluene, 2% citric or tartaric acid and benzene, was separated by TLC. The vinblastine fraction was cut out and vinblastine was eluted from the sorbent. The amount of vinblastine was determined by HPLC with peak-height measurement. The standard deviation is 0.2 microgram/ml. The detection limit is 0.05 ng of vinblastine in a sample applied to the HPLC column.