Capillary electrophoretic analysis of salicin in Salix spp.

Salicin is a phenolic glycoside in willow bark which exhibits analgesic effects. Its occurrence in willow (Salix) species is the major reason willow bark and its extracts are popular products in the nutritional supplement market. Previously, HPLC has been the standard method of analysis of quantifying salicin in Salix. We describe a new method of analysis using capillary electrophoresis (CE) that is faster, relatively simple and highly reproducible. Two different species of willow, Salix alba and Salix scouleriana, are analyzed for salicin by CE, using 20 mM glycine (pH 8.8), in uncoated capillaries at 25 kV and 25°C, and UV detection at 215 nm.