Determination of nucleosides in natural cordyceps sinensis and cultured cordyceps by RP--HPLC

OBJECTIVE To develop a HPLC method for the determination of the nucleosids from Cordyceps sinensis and cultured Cordyceps,and to study the difference in them.METHODS Eighteen samples of Cordycep from different resources were collected.Uridine,adenine,adenosine,and cordycepin were determined by RP-HPLC method.The separation was performed on a Symmetry Shield Rp18(3.9(mm×150 mm),5 μm) with UV detection at 260 nm,the mobile phase used were acetonitrile-water with gradient elution,the flow rate was from 0.2～1.2 mL·min~(-1) and the columm temperature was controlled at 30 ℃.RESULTS This method was accurate and reproducible as well as specific.The contents of nuleosides from cultured Cordyceps were higher than that of those from wildlife.The differences of every constituent content among the four active nucleosides in Cordyceps sinensis were lower than those in cultured Cordyceps.CONCLUSION This method effectively distinguished nucleosides in various Cordyceps.Consequently it can be used to analyze nucleosides between Cordyceps sinensis and cultured Cordyceps as well as evaluate their quality.