Optimization of separation selectivity in capillary electrophoresis of flavonoids

Determination of flavonoid aglycones in several food samples by mixed micellar electrokinetic chromatography

The application of mixed micellar electrokinetic chromatography to the separation of ten flavonoid aglycones (catechin, epicatechin, naringenin, morin, fisetin, quercetin, kaempferol, galangin, apigenin, and chrysin) belonging to four different classes (flavanols, flavanones, flavonols, and flavones), and expected to be prominent in commonly consumed foods, has been developed. A micellar system composed of 25 mM SDS and 25 mM sodium cholate buffered at pH 7.0 provided a simultaneous separation of all compounds in less than 20 min. The procedure could be easily adapted to the determination of some flavonoids from each of these classes in real complex samples (propolis, Ginkgo biloba, etc.). The LODs of these compounds were in the range of 1.2-4 microg/mL, and the peak area and migration time repeatabilities were below 6.0 and 3.1%, respectively.

Application of reverse-flow micellar electrokinetic chromatography for the simultaneous determination of flavonols and terpene trilactones in Ginkgo biloba dosage forms

A reverse-flow micellar electrokinetic chromatographic (RF-MEKC) method was developed for the simultaneous qualitative determination of 10 components consisting of the flavonol glycosides, rutin and quercitrin, the flavonol aglycones, isorhamnetin, kaempferol and quercetin, the terpene trilactones, ginkgolides A, B, C and J and the sesquiterpene, bilobalide. This method was used to fingerprint Ginkgo biloba solid oral dosage forms and validated for the quantitation of the marker compounds, rutin and quercetin in some commercial products. In addition to the usual variables, the influence of some essential background electrolyte (BGE) components such as sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and <beta>-cyclodextrin concentrations were investigated. A polyimide fused-silica square capillary column (75 microm I.D. x 360 microm O.D.) with a total length of 60.0 cm and effective length of 45.0 cm was used for the separation. The final BGE consisted of 20 mM phosphoric acid, 40 mM SDS and 12 mM <beta>-cyclodextrin (pH 2.2) using reverse polarity with a voltage of -17.5 kV. Samples were injected electrokinetically at -5 kV for 3 s for the qualitative analysis and hydrodynamically at 20 mbar for 0.6 s for the quantitative assay. The total run time was 22 min and the limits of detection were 3.13 microg/ml and 1.88 microg/ml for rutin and quercetin, respectively. Fingerprint profiles of the solid oral dosage forms and the results of the quantitative analysis indicated that there were major discrepancies in the marker content between products and illustrates the value of this method for use as a procedure to assess product quality of commercially available Ginkgo biloba products.

Use of non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis for the quality control of commercial saffron samples

A non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) method for quantifying the seven crocin metabolites that are the major biologically active ingredients of saffron was developed. Separation is done by using a fused silica capillary filled with a 12.5 mM H3BO3/37.5 mM sodium tetraborate methanolic solution as background electrolyte. The results obtained were compared with the total index "safranal value", widely used as a quality measure of saffron products. The comparison revealed that the proposed NACE method provides useful information not obtained in the safranal value. Infact, samples with a similar safranal value can contain crocin metabolites in different concentrations and relative proportions. This new method is very useful for quality control in commercial saffron samples.

Complete Assignment of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) Anthocyanins Separated by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) mobilities of fifteen anthocyanins in bilberry extract were completely characterized. Four minor anthocyanins in bilberry extract (malvidin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (Mv 3-ara), peonidin 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (Pn 3-gal), peonidin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (Pn 3-ara), and petunidin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (Pt 3-ara)) that remained unidentified in our previous CZE study were isolated from the bilberry extract, and the chemical structures were assigned by NMR and MS. Their CZE mobilities were then precisely examined together with those of other major anthocyanins in the extract. When the CZE mobilities of the fifteen anthocyanins assigned here were plotted against their molecular weight/numbers of free phenolic group, it was found that separation of anthocyanins by CZE is primarily determined by the type of conjugated sugar present, and secondly by the aglycon structure.

Quantification of the production of dihydrokaempferol by flavanone 3-hydroxytransferase using capillary electrophoresis

A sensitive method using capillary electrophoresis for the separation, detection, and quantification of dihydrokaempferol (1) is reported. Well-resolved, sharp symmetrical peaks were obtained in grapefruit leaf extracts for 1, naringenin (2), and the internal standard, naringin (3). Long columns were required to resolve 1 from 2 in crude enzyme reactions and this resulted in run times of 60 min. The limit of detection for 1 was found to be 1.44 ng/microL (4.2 pg). The method showed excellent linearity and reproducibility. The method was used to determine the activity of flavanone 3-hydroxytransferase (F3H) in leaf tissue of grapefruit by quantification of the production of dihydrokaempferol in controlled time course reactions. The sensitivity of the method makes it adaptable to assaying F3H activity in individual young seedlings and/or in small tissue samples and requires only 100 mg of tissue.

Separation of hypericins and hyperforins in extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. using non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis with reversed electro-osmotic flow

The separation of the lipophilic compounds in extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. is demonstrated in a non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis system with reversed electro-osmotic flow. Solvent mixtures of methanol, dimethylsulfoxide and N-methylformamide were used for the electrophoresis media, with addition of ammonium acetate and sodium acetate as electrolytes. The flow was reversed by the addition of the polycation hexadimethrine bromide, and thus negative voltage was applied. The method shows baseline separation between the four hypericins-protopseudohypericin, pseudohypericin, protohypericin and hypericin-whereas total baseline separation between the two hyperforins-hyperforin and adhyperforin-was not achieved. Using a fused-silica capillary (30 cm x 25 microm ID) and a voltage of -25 kV the analysis time of the hypericins and hyperforins was obtainable within 3 min. Application of the method with a fused-silica capillary of a larger internal diameter (48.5 cm x 50 microm ID) and a voltage of -20 kV resulted in analysis times of 8 min, but also lower limits of detection. The maximal attainable voltage was applied in both cases. Simultaneous separation of the flavonoids-although less efficient-may also be achieved. The technique of non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis with reversed electro-osmotic flow provides a very fast technique to evaluate the composition of hypericins and hyperforins in extracts of Hypericum perforatum L.

Analysis of procyanidins in chocolate by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometric and tandem mass spectrometric detection

The analysis of procyanidins in crude chocolate extracts by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (MS) is described in this report. Catechin monomers and procyanidin oligomers (dimers to hexamers) were identified according to the mass of the single charged pseudomolecular ion ([M-H]-). Identification was further confirmed by collision-induced dissociation MS-MS analysis, which in addition, permitted the identification of double charged pentameric, hexameric, and heptameric ions. This study demonstrates the capability of the combination of HPLC and modern ion trap mass analysers to significantly reduce sample preparation and analysis time in combination with high specificity and structural information for compound identification.

Measurement of food flavonoids by high-performance liquid chromatography: A review

The flavonoids are plant polyphenols found frequently in fruits, vegetables, and grains. Divided into several subclasses, they include the anthocyanidins, pigments chiefly responsible for the red and blue colors in fruits, fruit juices, wines, and flowers; the catechins, concentrated in tea; the flavanones and flavanone glycosides, found in citrus and honey; and the flavones, flavonols, and flavonol glycosides, found in tea, fruits, vegetables, and honey. Known for their hydrogen-donating antioxidant activity as well as their ability to complex divalent transition metal cations, flavonoids are propitious to human health. Computer-controlled high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has become the analytical method of choice. Many systems have been developed for the detection and quantification of flavonoids across one, two, or three subclasses. A summary of the various HPLC and sample preparation methods that have been employed to quantify individual flavonoids within a subclass or across several subclasses are tabulated in this review.

Use of detergents and high contents of organic solvents for simultaneous quantitation of ionic and nonionic drugs by electrokinetic chromatography

Buffers containing high percentages of organic solvents, typically 50% of acetonitrile and/or methanol, together with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) are employed for the separation and quantitation by electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) of analytes found in a nasal spray. Solutes consist of benzalkonium chloride, a family of highly positive compounds, and 2-phenylethanol and beclomethasone dipropionate, which are electrically neutral and poorly soluble in aqueous buffers. It is observed that the effect of both concentration of SDS and temperature on the separation depends on the organic solvent used and the solute nature. It is also observed that SDS-solute interaction for neutral and cationic compounds are weaker in the presence of high contents of acetonitrile than in methanol. Concentration of SDS, temperature, and organic solvent nature and content, allow one to modify the selectivity of the separation when neutral and ionic species have to be simultaneously determined. The optimization of EKC conditions enables the analysis of compounds in less than 5 min. A one-step sample treatment consisting of centrifugation of the nasal spray solved in acetonitrile, together with the referenced optimum separation conditions enable the reproducible quantitation of the analytes. Relative standard deviation values of inter-day migration times lower than 2.45% are obtained (R.S.D.n = 12), while R.S.D.n = 12 values for inter-day peak areas were lower than 6.32%.

Quantitation of active ingredients and excipients in nasal sprays by high-performance liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and UV spectroscopy

A study on the use of different analytical methodologies to determine active ingredients and excipients found in commercial nasal sprays is presented. Two of the developed methodologies consisted of separation techniques, i.e. high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis, and the third one involved a UV-spectroscopic multicomponent procedure. The samples studied are characterized by a high viscosity and the existence of a large number of particles in suspension; therefore, special emphasis is paid on the sample preparation required by each methodology. Advantages and drawbacks of each analytical technique are also discussed in terms of speed of analysis, sensitivity and reproducibility. From this work it is observed that although the UV method needs the most laborious sample preparation, the total time required per analysis is the shortest one. The best reproducibility in terms of analysis time and quantitation of the analyzed compounds is obtained using HPLC. CE allows the determination of more components in the same sample.

Analysis of Stevia glycosides by capillary electrophoresis

The determination of diterpene glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana leaves using capillary electrophoresis is described. Analyses were performed on fused silica capillaries with 20 mM sodium tetraborate buffer, pH 8.3, and 30 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate. The effect of the organic solvent injected with the sample solution on the electrophoretic solution has been confirmed, and an absolute amount of 1.6 nL per injected sample was optimal. Rebaudioside A and steviolbioside were isolated by semipreparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and their structure was assessed by mass spectrometry.

Determination of sunscreen agents by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

The separation of UV-A and UV-B sunscreens by micellar electrokinetic chromatography has been studied. The optimized method, which involves the presence of an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulphate) and an organic modifier in the background electrolyte, was applied to determine these sunscreens in cosmetic products. Identification was achieved by "on-line" UV spectra. Recovery was in the range of 88-92% and the lower limit of detection was 0.15 mg ml-1.