Purpose: To develop a method to identify and quantify the compounds in the shoots of four
Phyllostachys bamboo species (Gramineae
Phyllostachys prominens
W. Y. Xiong, Gramineae
Phyllostachys iridescins C. Y. Yao Gramineae
Phyllostachys pubescens
(Carr.) Mitford, Gramineae
Phyllostachys praecox
C. D. Chu et C. S. Chao. ).
Methods: The compounds in bamboo shoots were isolated and identified by ultraviolet (UV)
spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Quantitative analysis
was performed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) using a C18
column and a mixture (1:1ratio) of acetonitrile and 15 mM ammonium acetate (pH 6.0) as mobile phase.
This method was validated for its reproducibility, chemical stability, and recovery.
Results: Six nucleosides and two amino acids were isolated from bamboo shoots, including guanosine,
2’-deoxyguanosine, adenosine, thymidine, uridine, cytidine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine. The HPLC
method was rapid and reproducible. The intraday and interday concentrations of the eight identified
compounds showed good linearity in the range of 0.22 - 60.00 μg/mL. The relative standard deviation
(RSD) for intraday and interday precision for reproducibility and stability was < 3 %. The validated
method was successfully applied to determine the content of the eight compounds in four different
Phyllostachys species.
Conclusion: Adenosine was isolated from bamboo shoots previously, but the isolation of the other
seven compounds are reported here for the first time. The method proposed is sensitive and
reproducible, and would facilitate studies of nutritional/medicinal compounds in bamboo shoot.
