Larkspur (Delphinium semibarbatum) LC

Yellow larkspur/ picture from Denver Botanic Gardens

Description

The Yellow larkspur, (Delphinium semibarbatum) is a perennial plant that can grow to 30-80 cm high with a simple or few-branched erect stem. It grows on mountain meadows and grassy plains to a height of 2,000 m in central Asia, and from Iran and Afghanistan to northern India.

When the blooming season comes, the flowering stems are used to dye yellow.

Yellow larkspur is a source of CI Natural Yellow 10.

Historical importance

Yellow larkspur was one of the main sources of yellow dye in central Asia before the adoption of synthetic dyes in this region. It was used in the silk and silk-and-cotton ikats of the Uzbeks, Tajiks, Turkmens and Jews [1].

Mark Whiting reported that larkspur was the main yellow dye used by the nomadic people of Persia, the Caucasus and Turkestan in the 19th century [2]. Nevin enez and Harald Bohmer identified larkspur as the source of the yellow dye in a prayer rug preserved in the Topkapi Museum [3].

Examples:

MAA F1276/3

Summary of results

Falovnols present as 3-O-glycosides: quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin are detected as main colorants.

Analytical instrumentation and procedures

HPLC-DAD-MS analysis was performed with an Agilent 1100 liquid chromatography system consisting of an automatic injector, a gradient pump, a HP series 1100 DAD, and an Agilent series 1100 VL on-line atmospheric pressure ionization electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. Separations were done on a Vydac 214TP52 analytical column (2.1 mm diameterX250 mm; 5-ím particle size). The column was eluted at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min with a tertiary gradient of water (A),acetonitrile (B), and 1% (v/v) aqueous formic acid (C) with the following elution program: 0 min, 90% A, 5% B, 5% C; 0-55 min, a linear gradient to 35% A, 60% B, 5% C; 55-60 min, a linear gradient elution to 15% A, 80% B, 5% C; 60-62 min, isocratic elution at 15% A, 80% B, 5% C; 62-70 min gradient elution to 90% A, 5% B, 5% C; and reequilibration with the latter solvent for 15 min. The mass spectrometer was run both in the negative and positive ion mode [Method 1].

Chromatograms

HPLC-DAD

For this analysis, yellow larkspur (Delphinium semibarbatum) flowers from Turkey were extracted with 1 mL methanol:H2O (v:v=1:1). Then the upper 30 μl of solution was removed for HPLC-DAD-MS analysis (20 μl was injected).

Absorbance at 350nm (mAU)

Results

compounds identified

Identified compounds

HPLC-DAD

Rutin UV-Vis

Quercetin UV-Vis

Compound	RT (min.)	MW	UV/vis	Other
quercetin 3-O-glycoside	27.7	464	278,352	Comments here
kaempferol 3-O-glycoside	30.1	448	280,395,370
isorhamnetin 3-O-glycoside	30.1	478	280,395,368

References

[1] Cardon, Dominique. "Natural dyes, sources, Traditions, Technology and Science" 169 (2007).

[2] Cardon, Dominique. "Natural dyes, sources, Traditions, Technology and Science" 168 (2007).

[3] Zhang, X., and Laursen, R. A., Development of Mild Extraction Methods for the Analysis of Natural Dyes in Textiles of Historical Interest Using LC-Diode Array Detector-MS. Analytical Chemistry 77, 2022-2025 (2005).