Analysis of small carbohydrates in several bioactive botanicals by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Bioactive botanicals contain natural compounds with specific biological activity, such as antibacterial, antioxidant, immune stimulating, and taste improving. A full characterization of the chemical composition of these botanicals is frequently necessary. A study of small carbohydrates from the plant materials of 18 bioactive botanicals is further described. The study presents the identification of the carbohydrate using a gas chromatographic‐mass spectrometric analysis that allows detection of molecules as large as maltotetraose, after changing them into trimethylsilyl derivatives. A number of carbohydrates in the plant (fructose, glucose, mannose, sucrose, maltose, xylose, sorbitol, and myo‐, chiro‐, and scyllo‐inositols) were quantitated using a novel liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric technique. Both techniques involved new method developments. The gas chromatography with mass spectrometric analysis involved derivatization and separation on a Rxi^®‐5Sil MS column with H₂ as a carrier gas. The liquid chromatographic separation was obtained using a hydrophilic interaction type column, YMC‐PAC Polyamine II. The tandem mass spectrometer used an electrospray ionization source in multiple reaction monitoring positive ion mode with the detection of the adducts of the carbohydrates with Cs⁺ ions. The validated quantitative procedure showed excellent precision and accuracy allowing the analysis in a wide range of concentrations of the analytes.     

Separation of alkaloids from herbs using high-speed counter-current chromatography

Alkaloids represent a most widespread group of bioactive natural products. Because of their alkalinity and structural diversity, the fractionation and purification of the alkaloids from herbs can often present a number of practical difficulties using the conventional chromatographic techniques. High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) is a liquid-liquid partition chromatography with a support-free liquid stationary phase, and is gaining more and more popularity as a viable separation technique for bioactive compounds from natural resources. In the present review, focus is placed on the separation of alkaloids by both conventional HSCCC and pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography (CCC) techniques from herbs. The review presents the separation of over 120 different alkaloid compounds from more than 30 plant species by the conventional HSCCC and pH-zone-refining CCC. Based on the data from the literature, the proper solvent systems for the separation of alkaloids by the conventional HSCCC and pH-zone-refining CCC are also summarized.     

LC-MS analysis in the aquatic environment and in water treatment – a critical review

LC-MS has become an invaluable technique for trace analysis of polar compounds in aqueous samples of the environment and in water treatment. LC-MS is of particular importance due to the impetus it has provided for research into the occurrence and fate of polar contaminants, and of their even more polar transformation products. Mass spectrometric detection and identification is most widely used in combination with sample preconcentration, chromatographic separation and atmospheric pressure ionization (API). The focus of the first part of this review is directed particularly toward instruments and method development with respect to their applications for detecting emerging contaminants, microorganisms and humic substances (HS). The current status and future perspectives of 1) mass analyzers, 2) ionization techniques to interface liquid chromatography (LC) with mass spectrometry (MS), 3) methods for preconcentration and separation with respect to their application for water analysis are discussed and examples of applications are given. Quadrupole and ion trap mass analyzers with electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) are already applied in routine analysis. Time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometers are of particular interest for accurate mass measurements for identification of unknowns. For non-polar compounds, different ionization approaches have been described, such as atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI), electrochemistry with ESI, or electron capture ionization with APCI. In sample preconcentration and separation, solid phase extraction (SPE) with different non-selective sorbent materials and HPLC on reversed-phase materials (RP-HPLC) play the dominant role. In addition, various on-line and miniaturized approaches for sample extraction and sample introduction into the MS have been used. Ion chromatography (IC), size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), and capillary electrophoresis (CE) are alternative separation techniques. Furthermore, the issues of compound identification, matrix effects on quantitation, development of mass spectral libraries and the topic of connecting analysis and toxicity bioassays are addressed.     

Chromatography: An important tool for drug discovery

Despite substantial developments of extraction and separation techniques, isolation of natural products from natural sources is still a challenging task. Undoubtedly hybrid methods like liquid chromatography with NMR spectroscopy or liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry made on‐line structure elucidation possible and provided impressive examples of natural product identification without prior isolation, however, in many cases the necessity to get the purified compounds in hand is still a fact. The process begins with the collection of desired plant material which is subjected to the suitable extraction process. The complex crude extracts are then monitored by various chromatographic procedures to separate and quantify the desired compounds. The active plant extracts are then fractionated to isolate the bioactive compounds in their pure form. The fully identified compound is used as a lead for the production of related analogues to modulate the biological activity and to carry out structure‐activity relationship. The major isolated bioactive compound is used for semi‐synthetic modification or total synthesis should be carried out such that it is relatively easy to modify the structure of the lead compound. This is a simple and cost‐effective way to increase the chance to discover lead compounds. The biological activity in vitro and in vivo has to be done after purification.     

Characterization of natural organic colorants in historical and art objects by high‐performance liquid chromatography

High‐performance liquid chromatography plays an important role in analysis of historical organic colorants. A number of papers have been published in this field over the last 30 years. Classification of the most commonly used natural dyes and an overview of high‐performance liquid chromatography methods with main focus on recent works (2008 to the beginning of 2014) are provided. The review deals with an entire analytical protocol covering sample preparation, chromatographic separation, and suitable detection (UV/visible and fluorescent spectroscopy and mass spectrometric techniques). High‐performance liquid chromatography has been successfully used in the complete characterization of some organic dyestuffs present in historical and art objects. The possibilities and difficulties for identification of natural sources of historical colorants are also discussed.     

A comparative estimation of the morphine content of the ayurvedic formulation ‘Kamini Vidrawan Ras’ using validated high-performance thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - The separation and estimation of natural products by chromatographic techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography...     

Chromatographic and electrophoretic procedures for analyzing plant pigments of pharmacologically interests

The achievements in the use of chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques including thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis for the separation and quantitative determination of pharmacologically interesting plant pigments in various sample matrices such as medicine, plant, foods and food products, etc. are surveyed and critically evaluated.     

Separation of diarylethene-based photoswitchable isomeric compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography

Diarylethene-based photoswitches have become very popular over the last few decades for potential applications in chemistry, materials science, and biotechnology due to their unique physical and chemical properties. We report the isomeric separation of a diarylethene-based photoswitchable compound using high-performance liquid chromatography. The separated isomers were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and mass spectrometry confirmed the isomeric nature of the compounds. The isomers were purified by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, providing fractionated samples to study the isomers individually. A total amount of 13 mg of an isomer of interest was fractionated from a solution of 0.4 mg/ml of the isomeric mixture. Because the preparative high-performance liquid chromatographic method required large quantities of solvent, we explored the use of supercritical fluid chromatography as an alternative separation mode which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first time this technique is used to separate diarylethene-based photoswitchable compounds. Supercritical fluid chromatography provided faster analysis times while maintaining sufficient baseline resolution for the separated compounds and consuming less organic solvent in the mobile phase compared to high-performance liquid chromatography. It is proposed that the supercritical fluid chromatographic method be upscaled and used in future fractionation of the diarylethene isomeric compounds, becoming a more environmentally benign approach for compound purification.     

New Principles of Ion-Exchange Techniques Suitable to Sample Preparation and Group Separation of Natural Products Prior to Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A Gentle method of group separation of low molecular weight hydrophilic natural products is reported. The method is based on separation of the compounds according to their net charge at different pH values using different types of ion-exchange columns connected in series. Precolumns retaining interfering compounds are used in some cases. Elution of the compounds retained on the columns is performed by use of volatile eluents. The elution principle for two of the ion-exchangers in question is removal of the charges on the column materials while for the third column the positive net charge on the compounds retained is removed. Thereby, the total amount of ions retained on the different columns is released and eluted into small volumes, which after evaporation leaves the ions as well defined salts. The method is experimentally simple and efficient to separation of natural products into groups suitable to direct use in sensitive methods of analysis as e.g. high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Combinations of these column chromatographic methods have been adpated for micro or semimicro determinations of naturally occurring compounds, e.g., aromatic choline esters, amines, amino acids and esters of phenolic carboxylic acids. The methods seem to be general practicable for group separation of low molecular weight hydrophilic compounds.     

制备气相色谱在挥发性成分分离中的应用研究进展北大核心CSCD

分析型气相色谱仪对低沸点易挥发的有机化合物展现出优异的分离性能,通过在其色谱柱末端加装馏分收集装置,建立了现代制备气相色谱(Prep GC)技术,该技术可用于挥发性成分的快速分离富集。制备气相色谱仪是由分析型气相色谱仪改装而来,其进样系统、分离系统、检测系统、馏分收集系统也在不断地优化升级,以提高目标化合物的回收效率和纯度。Prep GC与现代波谱技术(如紫外可见吸收光谱、红外吸收光谱、拉曼光谱、质谱、X射线衍射、核磁共振波谱)耦合,可对分离富集得到的目标化合物的结构进行精准确证。近年来,与Prep GC在各种挥发性成分分离中的应用相关的报道逐渐增多,展现出良好的应用前景。然而,Prep GC在分离过程中也存在着无法制备热敏性化合物、分离成本高、易引入外源性污染等问题。该文根据近年来国内外研究学者的相关研究工作,对制备气相色谱仪的结构及其在精油单体化合物、昆虫信息素、食品和植物挥发性成分、地质生物标志物及持久性环境污染物的分离等领域的应用研究进展进行综述。最后,还对Prep GC在挥发性成分分离中的应用进行了总结与展望,旨在为拓展Prep GC应用领域提供参考。     

芯片液相色谱技术进展

微型化是现代分析仪器发展的重要趋势。微型化液相色谱仪器在提供与常规尺度液相色谱相同甚至更高分离效率的同时,可以有效减少溶剂和样品的消耗;在液相色谱-质谱联用中,低流速进样可以有效提高质谱离子源的离子化效率,提高质谱检测效率;对于极微量样品的分离,微型化的液相色谱可以有效减少样品稀释;液相色谱的微型化还有利于液相色谱仪器整体的模块化和集成化设计。芯片液相色谱是在微流控芯片上制备色谱柱并集成相应的流体控制系统和检测系统。芯片液相色谱是色谱仪器微型化的一种重要方式,受到学术界和产业界的普遍关注,但是这一方式也充满挑战。液相色谱微流控芯片需要在芯片基底材料、芯片色谱柱的结构设计、微流体控制技术、检测器技术等方面做出创新,使微流控芯片系统适配液相色谱分离技术的需要。目前芯片液相色谱领域面临的主要问题在于芯片基底材料的性质难以满足芯片液相色谱进一步微型化和集成化的需求;因此芯片液相色谱在未来的发展中需要着重关注新型微流控芯片基底材料的开发以及微流控芯片通道结构的统一设计。该文着重介绍了芯片液相色谱技术近年来的研究进展,并简要展示了商品化芯片色谱当前的发展情况。     

Hyphenated chromatographic methods for biomaterials

The improvement in hyphenated analytical techniques has significantly widened their applications to the analysis of biomaterials. In this article, we discuss recent advances in applications of hyphenated chromatographic techniques including capillary electrophoresis to the analyses of biological samples. As tools of separation, gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis are considered with special emphasis on applications utilizing the hyphenation of these methods to mass spectrometry. Moreover, applications using other detection methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy hyphenated to gas chromatography and photodiode array detector combined with high-performance liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis are also discussed. Owing to their high sensitivity, luminescence-based detection systems such as laser-induced fluorescence and chemiluminescence are also included in this review.     

Application of carbon nanotubes in extraction and chromatographic analysis: A review

Carbon nanotube (CNT), a well-known carbon-based nanomaterial has drawn much attention in many application fields including chemistry in the last few decades. Many researchers and scientists have shown huge interest to improve the extraction methodologies and adopt their applications in combination with chromatography technique. With respect to this, the exceptional applications of CNTs have been introduced as extraction sorbent due to their excellent inborn physical and chemical properties. In particular, CNTs have consistently been used as adsorbents in various techniques including solid-phase micro-extraction, solid-phase extraction, micro dispersive slid phase extraction, magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction, analytes enrichment, sample fractionation and clean-up as well as support for many derivatization reactions. Many research papers have discussed the successful use of CNTs to overcome the limitations of the extraction techniques due to their excellent sorbent capacity. In addition, considering the clear need to make chromatographic technique more successful, the applications of CNTs have been reported in the literatures in details as stationary and pseudo-stationary phases for the separation and extraction of challenging compounds. Because of the higher thermal and chemical stability, CNTs have been anticipated as stationary phase modifier for chromatographic applications to avoid bleeding of the columns and enable the analysis even at very high temperature (1200 °C). In liquid chromatography CNTs have primarily been used in combination with other packing materials (silica) and sometimes incorporated in a porous polymeric monolith. Therefore, the recent utilizations of CNTs as extraction materials and stationary phases have been illustrated in the current review and a table listing the details applications of CNTs in aforementioned field is provided as well. We believe that the review will help researcher to gain vast knowledge about application of carbon nanotubes in the field of separation chemistry.     

The rôle of countercurrent chromatography in the fractionation of complex mixtures

The biologically active pricipals in nature are frequently present as only a few parts per million of complex mixtures of non-volatile components and often have limited stability. Their isolation often requires the application of all available techniques, such as adsorption chromatography, ion exchange procedures, size exclusion techniques, and solvent partition methods consistent with their physical properties and stability. The process of countercurret chromatography is essentially liquid-liquid chromatography in which the stationary liquid bed is retained in the column by a force field rather than by a solid supporting matrix. Adsorption effects are thereby eliminated. The technique is particularly advantageous in the preparative separation of milligram to gram quantities of polar and labile organic compounds and bio-particulate materials such as cells and cell fragments. Virtually any twophase solvent system, either aqueous or non-aqueous may be employed. Countercurrent chromatography (CCC) provides a convenlent alternative to adsorption chromatography for fractionation of natural products or other complex mixtures. In some cases, this high resolution method offers advantages with regard to the avoidance of contamination from solid adsorbents, versatility, and relatively inexpensive operation. The article covers some of the applications, selection of solvents, and advantages of CCC.     

Recent theoretical and practical applications of micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) in pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) is an analytical technique belonging to the wide range of reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RP-LC) separation techniques. MLC with the use of surfactant solutions above its critical micellar concentration (CMC) and the addition of organic modifiers is currently an important analytical tool with still growing theoretical considerations and practical applications in pharmaceutical analysis of drugs and other biologically active compounds. The use of MLC as an alternative, relatively much faster in comparison to conventional chromatographic separation techniques has several advantages, especially as being suitable for screening pharmaceutical analysis. The analytical data received from MLC analysis are considered a useful source of information to predict passive drug absorption, drug transport and other pharmacokinetics and physicochemical measures of pharmaceutical substances.     

New alkyl-phosphate bonded stationary phases for liquid chromatographic separation of biologically active compounds

A new type of bonded stationary phase for liquid chromatography, with the properties of immobilized artificial membranes, has been synthesized. Alkyl-phosphate adsorbents were obtained by modification of aminopropyl silica gel. The structures of the synthesized materials were confirmed by use of instrumental techniques--elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and (13)C and (29)Si CP/MAS NMR. Analysis revealed that the adsorbents mimic the phospholipids present in natural cell membranes. The new synthesized alkyl-phosphate stationary phases may be used for liquid chromatographic separation of biologically active compounds of different polarity.     

Carbon‐based sorbents in chromatography. New achievements

The newest results in the employment of carbon‐based composites in various chromatographic techniques such as gas–liquid chromatography, high‐performance liquid chromatography and electrically driven separation techniques for the separation, quantitative determination and identification of a wide variety of compounds in complicated matrices are compiled. The results are concisely described and critically evaluated. The future trends in the application of carbon‐based compounds in the chromatographic separation methods are briefly discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Developments in the application of counter-current chromatography to plant analysis

Counter-current chromatography is a very versatile separation technique which does not require a solid stationary phase. It relies simply on the partition of a sample between the two phases of an immiscible solvent system. Some of the more recent applications of the method to the separation of plant-derived natural products are described here. Crude plant extracts and semi-pure fractions can be chromatographed, with sample loads ranging from milligrams to grams. Aqueous and non-aqueous solvent systems are used and the separation of compounds with a wide range of polarities is possible. The technique is complementary to other chromatographic methods and is compatible with gradient systems. The possibilities for solvent selection are almost limitless but some guidelines for the choice of successful systems are presented.     

Preparation and Characterization of a New Quercetin‐bonded Stationary Phase for High Performance Liquid Chromatography

A quercetin‐bonded silica gel stationary phase (QUSP) containing natural flavonoid ligand was first prepared via γ‐glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH‐560) as a coupling reagent for high‐performance liquid chromatography. Its chemical structure was characterized by Fourier infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermal thermogravimetry and ¹³C cross polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS NMR). The chromatographic property of QUSP was systematically evaluated by using neutral, basic and acidic aromatic compounds as probes. In order to clarify its retention mechanism, a comparative study of QUSP with conventional octadecylsilyl‐bonded stationary phase (ODS) was also carried out under the same conditions. The results showed that the new quercetin‐bonded phase exhibited an excellent reversed‐phase chromatographic property with relatively weak hydrophobicity. However, it has an advantage over ODS in the fast separation of polar aromatic compounds because the quercetin ligand could provide various sites besides hydrophobicity, such as hydrogen bonding, dipole‐dipole, π‐π staking and charge transfer interactions. QUSP was performed in the baseline separations of ionized polar basic or acidic compounds, including pyridines, anilines, pyrimidines, purines and phenols with symmetric peak shape in common mobile phases without buffer salt within relatively short time. The natural ligands from herbs are readily available and contain a variety of active sites, which facilitate the exploration of industrial chromatographic separation materials for green products.