Determination of egg yolk xanthophylls by isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography.

An isocratic HPLC method was developed for the determination of eight xanthophylls (lutein, capsanthin, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, ß-apo-8'-carotenal, ethyl-8'-apo-ß-carotene-8'-oate, citranaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin; registered as additives in poultry feeding) in egg yolks. Optimum separation of all-E-isomers of these xanthophylls was achieved in less than 18min on a ProntoSIL C30 column at 27°C using acetone-methanol-0.5M triethylammonium acetate buffer pH 7 14:5:1 (v/v) as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 1mL/min using spectrophotometric detection at 450nm. Other mobile phases were also found suitable, including acetone-water 93:7 (v/v) and acetone-methanol 1:4 (v/v) and the influences of column temperature on the separation and addition of triethylammonium acetate buffer pH 7 to the mobile phase on enhancement of the peak areas were evaluated. Preparation of test solution from yolks included a short vortexing of 0.5g of yolk in 10mL of acetone, followed by 15min magnetic stirring under nitrogen and centrifugation. The method was validated for 5 analytes. The calibration range was between 0.04 and 2µg/mL and the mean recovery of the analytes (95%) and the intra-day precision of the method (RSD less than 5%) on three levels in triplicates were obtained. Analyses of eggs from four husbandry classes showed the presence of up to four xanthophylls (lutein, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin and ethyl-8'-apo-ß-carotene-8'-oate) and traces of ß-cryptoxanthin.

Effects of extraction and high-performance liquid chromatographic conditions on the determination of lutein in spinach.

A major factor in the direct determination of lutein in spinach extracts proved to be obtaining reproducible and stable chromatography of lutein. This was achieved on a C30 column with the mobile phase acetone-0.1M triethylammonium acetate (TEAA) buffer (pH 7) 9:1 (v/v). Extraction of 10mg of lyophilized spinach with 10 mL of extraction solvent (ethanol, acetone, ethanol-ethyl acetate 1:1 (v/v), methanol-THF 1:1 (v/v)) for 15 min with magnetic stirring under nitrogen resulted in equal yields of lutein. The yields were enhanced by addition of 15% of 1M TEAA buffer pH 7 to all four extraction solvents. As confirmed by recovery experiments, no loss of lutein occurred during the extraction. The relative standard deviation from triplicate extractions was less than 5%. The addition of 15% TEAA pH 7 to acetone enhanced the extraction yield of lutein also from unlyophilized spinach. The content of lutein in different spinach samples ranged from 5 to 15 mg/100g of fresh weight. The first separation is reported of all the carotenoids and chlorophylls on a C18 core-shell column and the addition of 15% of 1M TEAA buffer pH 7 to acetone also enhanced the extraction yield of ß-carotene compared to the yield produced by pure acetone.

Addition of ß-lactoglobulin produces water-soluble shikonin.

Shikonin and its ester derivatives belong to a group of secondary metabolites with a wide array of beneficial effects on human health. However, shikonin is principally used in oil-based preparations due to the low solubility of the pigment in aqueous media, and the positive properties of shikonin are not exploited to their full potential. Such low aqueous solubility often results in poor bioavailability, makes shikonin undesirable for oral administration, and restricts its broadened use in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The purpose of this study was to enhance the aqueous solubility of shikonin by the addition of ß-lactoglobulin and to characterize the macromolecule-ligand binding interaction by means of spectrophotometry, spectrofluorometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry. In the presence of ß-lactoglobulin the solubility of shikonin is increased up to 181-fold. One shikonin molecule binds covalently to ß-lactoglobulin via Cys(121), whereas the remaining pigment molecules most probably bind to the protein via noncovalent interactions.

Development and validation of a high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method for determination of ofloxacin residues on pharmaceutical equipment surfaces.

An HPTLC method with densitometric quantification using fluorescence at 313 nm was developed and validated for the determination of ofloxacin residue in controlling pharmaceutical equipment cleanliness. Simulated samples at a residue level of 1 mg/m2 were prepared by spreading the calculated amount of ofloxacin solution on 1, 5, and 10 dm2 stainless steel surfaces. After evaporation of the solvent, the residue was removed by two ethanol wetted cotton swabs, which were thereafter extracted with the mixture of ethanol and Na2EDTA-water solution at pH 11 for 15 min with sonication. The extract and standards were applied on HPTLC silica gel 60 plates and then developed in a horizontal developing chamber from both sides using ethanol-conc. ammonia (4+1, v/v) as the mobile phase. The mean recovery (n=6) at 1 mg/m2 from 1, 5, and 10 dm2 was 95.3, 88.6, and 89.7% with the CV values 3.78, 4.41, and 4.97%, respectively. The absolute detection limit was 0.6 ng and the quantitation limit was 2 ng, but it was shown that these can be improved by immersion of the developed plate into a solution of liquid paraffin-n-hexane (1+2, v/v) to approximately 0.25 and 0.9 ng, respectively. The LOD of the method using detection without paraffin-n-hexane was 3, 0.6, and 0.3 microg/m2 by swabbing 1, 5, and 10 dm2, respectively. The method can be applied to routine control of pharmaceutical equipment cleanliness by sampling from stainless steel surface areas of 1 to 10 dm2 with acceptable residue limit/surface of 1 mg/m2.

Ultra-thin-layer chromatography mass spectrometry and thin-layer chromatography mass spectrometry of single peptides of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

The separation of structurally related angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors lisinopril, cilazapril, ramipril and quinapril and their corresponding active diacid forms (prilates) by conventional TLC silica gel 60 plates was contrasted with that afforded by monolithic ultra-thin-layer chromatographic (UTLC) plates. For the use of UTLC plates technical modifications of the commercially available equipments for the sample application, development and detection were made. Plates were developed in modified horizontal developing chamber using ethyl acetate-acetone-acetic acid-water (4:1:0.25:0.5, v/v). Detection of the separated compounds was performed densitometrically in absorption/reflectance mode at 220 nm and after exposure to iodine also by image analysis. The obtained results showed that monolithic layer is more efficient for the separation of structurally similar polar compounds, such as prilates than conventional silica layers. Identification of the compounds was confirmed by ESI-MS after their on-line extraction from the UTLC and TLC plates by means of Camag TLC-MS interface.

Separation and identification of some common isomeric plant triterpenoids by thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography.

Chromatographic separation of 10 triterpenoids (alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, delta-amyrin, lupeol, lupenon, lupeol acetate, cycloartenol, cycloartenol acetate, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid) and 2 sterols (stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol) was studied. The chromatographic techniques included silica gel and reversed-phase (C18 RP) thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and C18 RP high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using UV and mass spectrometric (MS) detection with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). The TLC separation of the isomeric triterpenols lupeol, alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin and cycloartenol was achieved for the first time using C18 RP-HPTLC plates. Cycloartenol could be separated from related compounds only on C18 RP-TLC but not on the C18 RP-HPLC. delta-Amyrin isolated from the tomato fruit surface extract could be separated from other amyrins only by HPLC. Tandem mass spectrometry allowed discrimination between the isomers lupeol, alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, delta-amyrin, cycloartenol and between lupeol acetate and cycloartenol acetate. The combination of 3 TLC methods and 2 HPLC methods enables qualitative determination of all 12 compounds and proves to be useful for the analysis of plant extracts. It is recommended that TLC screening on silica gel and C18 RP be performed before HPLC analysis.

Densitometric determination of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin by 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde reagent.

We report the optimization of a sensitive, selective and robust derivatization method using 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) for densitometric determination of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin. The separation of these compounds was achieved by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on cellulose plates developed with water. With DMACA in HCl, both compounds gave blue bands, while under the same conditions, vanillin produced a fast fading red coloration of bands. Quantitation at 655nm showed that for both compounds the calibration curve was linear from 2 to 12ng and polynomial from 2 to 30ng, and the repeatability of chromatography of 20ng was 3.5% (RSD, n=6). The visible limit of detection of both standards was 1ng, but the densitometric limit of detection was lower (0.2ng). The optimized DMACA reagent is superior to the more frequently used vanillin reagent and is applicable also for determination of mixtures containing other catechins ((-)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, procyanidin A2, procyanidin B1 and procyanidin B2).

Identification of shikonin and its ester derivatives from the roots of Echium italicum L.

Nine shikonin pigments: shikonin (S), acetylshikonin (AS), propionylshikonin (PS), isobutyrylshikonin (IBS), tiglylshikonin (TS), 3,3-dimethylacrylshikonin (DAS), angelylshikonin (ANS), 2-methyl-n-butyrylshikonin (MBS) and isovalerylshikonin (IVS) were identified in the root epidermis of Echium italicum L. for the first time. A new thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method for the separation of enantiomers alkannin and shikonin proved only shikonin after saponification of the root extract, and was afterwards esterified with the corresponding acyl chloride to acquire seven standard compounds (all except ANS). The developed isocratic high-peformance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods with VIS and mass spectrometry (MS) detection, allowed for the first time simultaneous separation of all nine compounds with similar structures including positional and geometric isomers in a short time. Structures of the main five compounds (AS, IBS, ANS, MBS, IVS) isolated from the extract by a new semi-preparative HPLC on C18 have additionally been confirmed by (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, which were reported for AS and MBS for the first time.

Column high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of norfloxacin and its main impurities in pharmaceuticals.

A gradient reversed-phase column high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the detection and quantification of norfloxacin and its major impurities in norfloxacin-containing pharmaceuticals. Chromatographic separations were performed under the following experimental conditions: column, Zorbax SB RP-18 (5 microm, 250 x 4.6 mm); injection volume, 20 microL; mobile phase, 0.05 M NaH2PO4 (pH 2.5)-acetonitrile (87 + 13) for 16 min and (58 + 42) for 9 min (stepwise gradient); and flow rate, 1.3 mL/min. All analyses were performed at 25 degrees C, and the eluate was monitored at 275 nm using a diode array detector. Linearity (correlation coefficient = 0.999), recovery (99.3-101.8%), relative standard deviation (0.2-0.7%), and quantitation limit (0.12-0.47 microg/mL) were evaluated and found to be satisfactory. The method is simple, rapid, and convenient for purity control of norfloxacin in both raw materials and dosage forms.

Determination of three major triterpenoids in epicuticular wax of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV and mass spectrometric detection.

Lupeol, together with alpha- and beta-amyrins in smaller quantities, has been found for the first time in the epicuticular wax of white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. convar. capitata (L.) Alef. var. alba DC) leaf surface extract. The three triterpenoids were identified by a new high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with UV and mass spectrometric (MS) detection using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). All three isomeric compounds gave a parent ion peak at m/z 409 [M+H-18](+) and the relative intensities of some characteristic fragment ion peaks in tandem mass spectrometric (MS-MS) spectra of this parent ion enabled differentiation between the isomers. An additional peak at m/z 439 [M+H](+), which could be oleanonic or ursonic aldehyde, was detected by HPLC-APCI-MS. Saponification of cabbage leaf surface extract with 20% NaOH in methanol at 65 degrees C for 2h had no influence on lupeol, or alpha- or beta-amyrins, but lead to the formation of three additional compounds, which were not identified.

Isolation of tomato pectin methylesterase and polygalacturonase on monolithic columns.

An improved cation-exchange chromatographic procedure on Convective Interaction Media (CIM, BIA Separations, Ljubljana, Slovenia) short monolithic methacrylate disk columns was used for the isolation of salt-independent pectin methylesterase (PME; EC 3.1.1.11) isoform and endo-polygalacturonase PG1 (PG, EC 3.2.1.15) from ripe tomato fruit extract after studying the chromatographic conditions including type of disk, binding buffer, pH, eluent composition and different gradients. Between 10 and 20 microg of proteins gave reliable chromatograms. Both carboxymethyl (CM) and sulfonyl (SO3) disks were equally suitable for the fractionation of tomato extract using the new gradient, but only CM disk was appropriate for further purification of the PME and PG fractions, and provided fast and sharp separation of proteins. The isolation of pure PG1 could be achieved only by addition of 20% of acetonitrile to the mobile phase. About 200 microg of proteins were loaded at one chromatographic run at the fractionation and purification. Determination of the molecular weights of the separated proteins showed that dimer of salt-independent PME isoform was formed in concentrated solutions of the enzyme but dissociated upon dilution of the solution. From 6 kg of fresh tomato flesh, 28 mg of purified salt-independent PME, 12.5mg of purified and active PG1 and 4 mg of PG2 fraction contaminated with salt-dependent PME isoform were obtained by means of semi-preparative chromatography on CIM disks.

Separation of pectin methylesterases and polygalacturonases on monolithic columns.

The most abundant isoforms of tomato pectin methylesterase (PME; EC 3.1.1.11; M(r) 26 kDa), polygalacturonase (PG; EC 3.2.1.15; PG1 with M(r) 82 kDa) and a basic protein with M(r) 42 kDa and unknown function were isolated from fresh tomato fruit by a fast chromatographic procedure on a Convective Interaction Media (CIM) short monolithic disk column bearing carboxymethyl (CM) groups. The extraction of the targeted enzymes with 1.2M NaCl solution was followed by precipitation with ammonium sulfate at 60% of saturation, solubilisation of the pellet in 0.5M NaCl and fractionation using a linear gradient from 0 to 700 mM NaCl. Among six fractions five had PME activity and four had PG activity, while one fraction containing a pure protein with M(r) 42 kDa with neither of these activities. Two concentrated fractions, one with PG and one with PME were further purified. A linear gradient from 0 to 500 mM NaCl with 20% CH(3)CN in the mobile phase was used for the PG fraction and two CM disks and a linear gradient from 0 to 200 mM NaCl were used for the PME fraction as a greater capacity was necessary in this case. From 4 kg of fresh tomato flesh we obtained 22 mg of purified PME, 1.8 mg of purified, active PG1, 13.5mg of additional basic protein and a fraction with PG2 contaminated by a PME isoform. Carboxymethyl CIM disk short monolithic columns are convenient for semi-preparative and analytical work with tomato fruit pectolytic enzymes.

Analysis of sucrose esters--insecticides from the surface of tobacco plant leaves.

Sucrose esters from the surface of leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L. have been shown to possess interesting biological activities. We developed a simple and effective method for their analysis using HPTLC silica gel plates, n-hexane-ethyl acetate (1:3, v/v) as developing solvent and aniline-diphenylamine as a detection reagent. Off-line TLC-MS was also used for the detection and identification of the compounds. Solutions containing sucrose esters upon alkaline hydrolysis give sucrose, which is used for indirect estimation by TLC of the sucrose ester content. The method is applicable for the screening for sucrose esters in plant extracts. The extract obtained from the surface of green leaves of oriental tobacco type Prilep P-23 contains sucrose esters and is effective against Myzus persicae (Sulzer) in laboratory and field experiments.

The biological and chemical variability of yacon.

This paper focuses on the biological and chemical variability of four yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) accessions cultivated under field conditions. Significant variations in tuber shape, weight, content of oligofructans, as well as in leaf isozymes, phenolics, and relative DNA contents were found. Accessions 6 and 88 were the most productive (up to 3.01 and 3.74 kg/plant); accession 48 was the most balanced from the yield aspect in three vegetative periods. A significantly higher content of beta-(2-->1) oligofructans was noted in accessions 48 and 88 as compared to 6 and 60. No difference in sucrose, glucose, and fructose level was observed. Only accession 6 exhibited separate acid phosphatase and esterase isoforms. Accessions 6 and 60 had the highest content of phenolics, and accession 88 had the lowest relative DNA content. Large yacon intraspecific variation may be useful in future detailed research as a good background for breeding, growing, and utilization in industrial processing.

Separation of eight selected flavan-3-ols on cellulose thin-layer chromatographic plates.

The potential of microcristaline cellulose as sorbent in the separation of eight compounds: (+)-catechin (C), (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-gallocatechin (GC), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECg), (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), procyanidin B1 and procyanidin B2 was studied. Cellulose HPTLC plates prewashed in water (not necessary, when water was used as developing solvent) and dried with a hair dryer, bandwise application and development in horizontal developing chamber (sandwich configuration) gave the best results. Detection was performed using vanillin-H3PO4 reagent. Four new developing solvent systems were proposed: water, 1-propanol-water (20:80, v/v), 1-propanol-water-acetic acid (4:2:1, v/v) and 1-propanol-water-acetic acid (20:80:1, v/v), and at least two of them were needed for the differentiation between all eight compounds. Surprisingly, water enabled the separation of epimers C from EC and GC from EGC, as well as the dimers procianidin B1 and B2. Additionally, C, EGC, B1 and B2 were separated from all the other compounds. The best choice for developing solvent is given for each of the studied compounds. The best separation of the five main catechins (EC, GC, EGC, ECg, EGCg) present in green tea extract was achieved using 1-propanol-water-acetic acid (20:80:1, v/v). The chromatograms of oak bark extract developed in solvents with higher water content (1-propanol-water (1:4, v/v) and 1-propanol-water-acetic acid (20:80:1, v/v)) showed less bands than chromatograms developed in solvents with higher organic modifier content (e.g. 1-propanol-water-acetic acid (4:2:1, v/v)). It was proved that such behavior was due to the presence of procyanidins beside the main component catechin.

Separation of pectin methylesterase isoenzymes from tomato fruits using short monolithic columns.

One of the main forms of tomato pectin methylesterase (PME; EC 3.1.1.1.1) that is applicable to the food industry was isolated from fresh tomato fruit. The extraction of the PME isoenzymes involved washing the fresh tomato flesh with water in order to remove sugars and than solubilizing the enzymes with a diluted HCl solution at pH 1.6. The extract was then neutralized to pH 7.4 using buffer solution. After filtration, the solution was directly fractioned using Convective Interaction Media (CIM) short monolithic disk column bearing sulfonyl (SO3) groups and using a linear gradient from 0 to 700 mM NaCl. The injection volume was 3 ml and the diameter of the column was 12 mm and length 3 mm. The isolated fractions were monitored for protein content and PME activity. The fraction with the targeted enzyme, which showed NaCl independent activity, was further purified and concentrated by ultrafiltration and finally purified by a second semi-preparative cation-exchange chromatography step using a CIM carboxymethyl (CM) disk monolithic column consisting of two disks and applying a step gradient. From 1 kg of fresh tomato fruits, 7.5 mg of purified PME with molecular mass estimated to be 26 000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was obtained. A fraction with mixed PME and polygalacturonase activity was also obtained. Compared to the published procedures for the isolation and purification of PME from plant materials, this new procedure is much faster and more efficient. The potential application of CIM disk short monolithic columns in the analysis and semi-preparative extraction and isolation of the PME isoenzyme is presented.

Development and validation of a thin-layer chromatographic method for determination of chloramphenicol residues on pharmaceutical equipment surfaces.

A thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method with densitometric quantitation using the absorption reflectance mode at 280 nm was developed and validated for the determination of chloramphenicol residues in controlling pharmaceutical equipment cleanliness. Simulated samples at residue levels 0.5, 1, and 1.2 mg/m2 were prepared by spreading the calculated amount of chloramphenicol solution on a 10 dm2 stainless steel surface. After evaporation of the solvent, the residue was removed by 2 methanol-wetted cotton swabs, which were then extracted with methanol. The extract was applied on a high-performance TLC (HPTLC) silica gel F254 plate together with standards ranging from 10 to 60 ng. Plates were developed in a horizontal developing chamber from both sides (36 applications per plate) by using n-hexane-ethyl acetate (35 + 65, v/v) as developing solvent. The mean recovery (n=6) at 1 mg/m2 was 95.8%, and the coefficient of variation was 5.8%. The absolute detection limit was 3 ng, and the quantitation limit 10 ng. The method detection limit was 0.3 mg/m2 by swabbing 2.5 dm2 and 0.075 mg/m2 by swabbing 10 dm2. Chloramphenicol was stable on the plate 2 h before and 24 h after development. Additionally, it was stable during 7 days storage on the cotton swabs in the solvent at room temperature and in diluted standard solution stored in darkness at 4 degrees C. The method can be applied to routine control of pharmaceutical equipment cleanliness by sampling from the stainless steel surface areas of 2.5 to 10 dm2, and an acceptable residue limit of 1 mg/m2.

Antimicrobial and antioxidative enrichment of oak (Quercus robur) bark by rotation planar extraction using ExtraChrom.

The multifunctional ExtraChrom instrument was used in the extraction of antimicrobial and radical scavenging components from oak (Quercus robur L.) bark. Milled and sieved oak bark was extracted with 80% (v/v) methanol solution in water on the ExtraChrom instrument using step-gradient in the preparative separation. Extracts were tested using agar diffusion method on Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes and Candida albicans. Some extracts showed moderate bactericidal, fungicidal, bacteriostatic and fungistatic activity. The composition related to activity of the fractions and extracts was screened simultaneously by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) detected by UV and by spraying the plate with radical scavenging reagent 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) to detect antioxidant activity. Thus, we could demonstrate the antiradical and antimicrobial activity of oak beneficial in the storage of wine against the oxidation and human microbial exposure.

Investigation of phenolic acids in yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) leaves and tubers.

Thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) screening of crude extracts of dried leaves and tubers of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius, Asteraceae) and products of acid hydrolysis of tubers on the silica gel HPTLC plates using the developing solvents ethyl acetate-formic acid-water (85:10:15, v/v/v) and n-hexane-ethyl acetate-formic acid (20:19:1, v/v/v) proved the presence of chlorogenic, caffeic and ferulic acid. These phenolic acids were isolated from the crude extract of yacon leaves by preparative TLC, and identified after elution by HPLC/MS, as well as by direct injection of the crude extract into the HPLC/MS system. Acid hydrolysis of tubers released the increased amount of phenolic acids (e.g. caffeic acid and ferulic acid), flavonoid quercetin and an unidentified flavonoid, which was detected by TLC analysis. Ferulic acid, isomers of dicaffeoylquinic acid and still an unidentified derivative of chlorogenic acid (Mr = 562) as constituents of yacon leaves and ferulic acid as constituent of yacon tubers are reported here for the first time. These acids gave significant contribution to the radical scavenging activity detected directly on the TLC plate sprayed with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).

Rotation planar extraction and rotation planar chromatography of oak (Quercus robur L.) bark.

The versatile novel instrument for rotation planar extraction and rotation planar chromatography was exploited for the investigation of oak bark (Quercus robur L.). The same instrument enabled extraction of the bark, analytical proof of (+)-catechin directly in the crude extract and also its fractionation. Additionally, epimeric flavan-3-ols, (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin were separated by analytical ultra-micro rotation planar chromatography on cellulose plates with pure water as developing solvent. A comparison of the extraction of oak bark with 80% aqueous methanol by rotation planar extraction and medium pressure solid-liquid extraction was carried out and both techniques were shown to be suitable for the efficient extraction of oak bark. The raw extracts and fractions on thin-layer chromatography showed many compounds that possessed antioxidant activity after spraying with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. Rotation planar fractionation of 840 mg of crude oak bark extract on silica gel gave 6.7 mg of pure (+)-catechin in one run.