ABSTRACT
A novel HPLC-based method employing molar absorption coefficient ratios to 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4HBA) was developed for the determination of quassin and neoquassin in Jamaica quassia extract, which is used as a food additive in Japan. Based on comparisons of quantitative NMR (qNMR) spectra and HPLC chromatograms of an artificial mixture of quassin, neoquassin, and 4HBA, the molar absorption coefficient ratios of quassin and neoquassin to 4HBA were determined as 0.84 and 0.85, respectively. Quassin and neoquassin were quantified in food additives by qNMR and HPLC based on molar absorption coefficient ratios using 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene-d4 and 4HBA as internal standards, respectively. The differences in quantitation values between qNMR and HPLC analyses were below 1.2%. Our proposed novel HPLC-based quantitation method employing the molar absorption coefficient ratios is a reliable tool for determining levels of quassin and neoquassin in food additives and processed foods.