Quantitation of pterosins A and B, and ptaquiloside, the main carcinogen of pteridium aquilinum (L. Kuhn), by high pressure liquid chromatography

Abstract
A quantitative method for the assessment of ptaquiloside and pterosins A and B in bracken fern has been developed. The technique involves quantitative extraction of fresh plant tissue, base‐induced decomposition of ptaquiloside to pterosin B, followed by prepurification of products on a silica gel microcolumn and quantitative high pressure liquid chromatography. The method has been used to estimate the contents of these norsequiter‐penes in fronds and rhizomes of Pteridium aquilinum var. caudatum from northern South America.