Selective determination of catechin, epicatechin and ascorbic acid in human urine using chiral capillary electrophoresis

Chiral CE was successfully applied to the separation and quantification of catechin, epicatechin and ascorbic acid in some commercial drinks and human urine. Analysis involved the separation of analytes in less than 5.0 min at 240 nm with an untreated fused-silica capillary under hydrodynamic injection mode. The running buffer consisted of 50 mM borate buffer with 3 mM beta-CD at pH 8.35. Detection limits for catechin, epicatechin and ascorbic acid were 0.028, 0.011 and 0.004 microg/mL, respectively. Linearity was investigated by selecting the ranges of calibration according to the amount of analytes in urine giving correlation coefficient percent (% r(2)) ranging between 99.4 and 99.6 at 99% confidence level. The maximum urinary excretion of catechin and epicatechin were noted at 2.0 and 4.0 h of the administrated dose. Unchanged catechin, epicatechin and ascorbic acid amounted to about 1.500, 8.696 and 0.003% of the administered dose in the 48.0 h urine collection. The proposed method achieved 99.2% completeness (n = 20) in urine media.     

Microwave‐assisted extraction followed by CE for determination of catechin and epicatechin in green tea

In this work, for the first time, microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) followed by CE was developed for the fast analysis of catechin and epicatechin in green tea. In the proposed method, catechin and epicatechin in green tea samples were rapidly extracted by MAE technique, and then analyzed by CE. The MAE conditions and the method's validation were studied. It is found that the extraction time of 1 min with 400 W microwave irradiation is enough to completely extract catechin and epicatechin in green tea sample, whereas the conventional ultrasonic extraction (USE) technique needs long extraction time of 60 min. The method validations were also studied in this work. The calibration curve shows good linearity in 0.01–3 mg/mL for catechin (R²=0.993), and 0.005–3 mg/mL for epicatechin (R²=0.996), respectively. The RSD values for catechin and epicatechin are 0.65 and 2.58%, respectively. This shows that the proposed method has good reproducibility. The proposed method has good recoveries, which are 118% for catechin and 120% for epicatechin. The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of the catechin and epicatechin in different green tea samples. The experiment results have demonstrated that the MAE following CE is a simple, fast and reliable method for the determination of catechin and epicatechin in green tea.     

HPLC coupled with fluorescence detection for the determination of procyanidins in white wines

Summary In this study a high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the determination of procyanidin dimers B1, B2, B3, B4 and procyanidin trimers C1 and T2 in white wine using fluorescence detection. This method allowed analysis of white wine with no prior treatment. Limits of quantification were form 12 μg.L⁻¹ to 16 μg.L⁻¹. Reproductibility data for replicate analysis was measured and the CV was less than 4.5%. This method was used for the determination of these compounds in six French white wines.     

Measurement uncertainty of shikimic acid in red wines produced in Chile

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine shikimic acid is used as a complementary tool to differentiate wine varieties. In order to correctly classify, measurement uncertainty of shikimic acid by HPLC in red wine was estimated considering the following components: uncertainty associated with the preparation of shikimic acid stock solution, uncertainty associated with quantification using a calibration curve, and uncertainty associated with precision. The most important contribution to total uncertainty was the method precision. The expanded uncertainty (U) for different wine varieties was between 2.6 and 8.5%. The method was applied to determine the concentration of shikimic acid in different emerging wine varieties cultivated in Chile, such as Carmenère, Shiraz, and Pinot Noir, comparing them with classical varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Shiraz wines presented lower shikimic acid concentrations (between 27 and 86 mg L⁻¹ with U _(k=2) = 2.6%) than Cabernet Sauvignon wines (between 41 and 142 mg L⁻¹ with U _(k=2) = 8.1%), but their concentrations were higher than found in Merlot (from 9 to 41 mg L⁻¹ with U _(k=2) = 4.3%) and Carmenère wines (between 7 and 49 mg L⁻¹ with U _(k=2) = 5.8%). Pinot Noir was the variety with the lowest concentration of this acid (7–14 mg L⁻¹ with U _(k=2) = 8.5%). Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Comparison of shikimic acid determination by capillary zone electrophoresis with direct and indirect detection with liquid chromatography for varietal differentiation of red wines

Two capillary zone electrophoretic (CZE) methods for determination of shikimic acid in Chilean red wine were developed and compared with a HPLC method. Both electrophoretic methods were carried out by using a reversed electroosmotic flow induced by trimethyl(tetradecyl)ammoniumbromide (TTAB) with indirect detection at 260 nm using p-aminobenzoic acid as a UV-absorbing co-ion or by direct detection at 213 nm. In both cases, the separation was carried out in a 50 microm I.D. uncoated capillary with an effective length of 48 cm, a negative power supply of 30 kV, using a buffer based on bis[2-hydroxyethyl]imino-tris[hydroxymethyl]methane (Bis-Tris), pH 7.0 or 7.5 and hydrodynamic injection. The chromatographic separations were carried out on a C-18 reversed phase column followed by a sulfonyl-styrene-divinylbenzene (S-DVB) ion exclusion column at 70 degrees C with H2SO4 0.02 M as isocratic mobile phase and a flow rate of 0.5 mL min(-1). The three methods allowed the quantification of shikimic acid with quantification limits between 1.0 and 12.0 mg L(-1) and precision between 7.3 and 10.1%, however, only the concentrations obtained by CZE with direct detection were statistically similar to those of HPLC. This parameter was evaluated as analytical tool to verify varietal authenticity of red wines. In all cases, the Cabernet Sauvignon wines presented higher concentrations of shikimic acid, compared with Merlot or Carmenère wines.     

Optimization of analytical conditions and validation of a fluorescence method for the determination of sulfadiazine in milk

This paper describes optimization and validation of a method for sulfadiazine determination in milk samples based on sulfadiazine derivatization with fluorescamine followed by excitation–emission (fluorescence) measurement. For both the optimization and the validation, a comparison between zero-order and first-order signals has been made, showing the advantages of using first-order signals. In the optimization the effects of the temperature of the derivatization reaction, the amount of fluorescamine and the derivatization time on the instrumental signal (maximum intensity or the net analyte signal) are studied by a factorial experimental design, with the optimal values of these factors which give the highest signal being 22 °C for the reaction temperature, 50 μl fluorescamine and 20 min of derivatization time. The validation of the method under the optimal experimental conditions shows that the analytical method is fit-for-purpose, with values of the capability of detection (CCβ) of 4.3 μg l⁻¹ at a sulfadiazine concentration of zero and with probabilities of a false positive and a false negative of 5%. Around the permitted limit (established for the sulfonamides at 100 μg l⁻¹), CCβ is 112 μg l⁻¹. The precision, as the intermediate reproducibility, was established as 1.2 and 3.3 μg l⁻¹ around 0 and 100 μg l⁻¹, respectively. In the application to milk samples spiked with sulfadiazine a mean recovery of around 90% was obtained with a standard deviation of about 8% (14 samples of different concentrations).     

Development and validation of a novel HPLC/ELSD method for the direct determination of tobramycin in pharmaceuticals,plasma, and urine

A novel method for the direct determination of the aminoglycoside tobramycin was developed and validated based on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD). Using a Waters ODS-2 C18 Spherisorb column with an evaporation temperature of 45°C and nitrogen pressure of 3.5 bar, the selected mobile phase consisted of water/acetonitrile 55:45 containing 1.5 mL L^–1 HFBA (11.6 mM) in an isocratic mode at a rate of 1.0 mL min^–1. Tobramycins retention time was 4.3 min with an asymmetry factor of 1.7. A logarithmic calibration curve was obtained from 1 to 38 g mL^–1 (r > 0.9998). LOD was 0.3 g mL^–1; within-day %RSD was 1.0 (n = 3, 4.7 g mL^–1) and between-day %RSD was 1.1 (3 days within a week). The developed method was applied to the determination of tobramycin in a pharmaceutical crude substance and formulations (eye drops and ointments). Dilution experiments revealed the absence of interference from excipients (no constant and proportional errors); recovery from spiked samples was 99–103% with %RSD < 2.2 (n = 3×3). The developed HPLC/ELSD method was also found to be applicable in the determination of tobramycin in human plasma (0.6–12.5 g mL^–1) and urine (1.5–12.5 g mL^–1) after solid-phase extraction using carboxylate cartridges followed by solvent evaporation (×2 preconcentration). A mean recovery of 86% for plasma and 91% for urine was obtained.     

Development and validation of an HPLC method for the determination of ten sulfonamide residues in milk according to 2002/657/EC

A HPLC method with diode-array detection, at 265 nm, was developed and validated for the determination of ten sulfonamides (SAs): sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfathiazine (STZ), sulfamethoxine (SMTH), sulfamethizole (SMZ), sulfamethoxypyridazine (SMPZ), sulfamonomethoxine (SMMX), sulfamethoxazole (SMXZ), sulfisoxazole (SIX), sulfadimethoxine (SDMX), and sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) in milk. A mixture of ethyl acetate, n-hexane, and isopropanol was used for the extraction of target analytes from milk. The mobile phase, a mixture of 0.1% v/v formic acid, CH(3) CN, and CH(3) OH was delivered to the analytical column under a gradient program. The procedure was validated according to the European Union regulation 2002/657/EC in terms of selectivity, stability, decision limit, detection capability, accuracy, and precision. Mean recoveries of sulfonamides from milk samples spiked at three concentration levels (0.5×MRL, 1×MRL, and 1.5×MRL) (MRL, maximum residue level) were 93.9-115.9% for SDZ, 97.8-102.9% for STZ, 94.6-107.0% for SMTH, 98.3-111.5% for SMZ, 95.3-108.4% for SMPZ, 97.9-106.0% for SMMX, 97.6-111.3% for SMXZ, 94.3-104.6% for SIX, 96.4-109.1% for SDMX, and 98.2-111.2% for SQX. All RSD values were lower than 8.8%. The decision limits CCa calculated by spiking 20 blank milk samples at MRL (100 μg/kg) ranged from 101.61 to 106.84 μg/kg, whereas the detection capability CCb ranged from 105.64 to 119.01 μg/kg.     

Determination of catechins and catechin gallates in biological fluids by HPLC with coulometric array detection and solid phase extraction

Tea polyphenols are well known for their beneficial health effects that involve their anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-pathogenic and anti-oxidative properties. The main polyphenols of green tea are favan-3-ols (catechins) and their corresponding gallate compounds, which constitute about one-third of the dry weight of tea leaves. Their main ingredients are (+)-catechin (C), (−)-epicatechin (EC), (−)-gallocatechin (GC), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)-catechin gallate (CG), (−)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), (−)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG) and (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Each has slightly different biological properties. We have developed a method to simultaneously analyze all these compounds in plasma and urine. The samples were first incubated with β-d-glucuronidase and sulfatase to release the catechin residues from their corresponding conjugates for subsequent extraction by selective solid phase column, Waters Oasis HLB extraction cartridges. The extracted molecules were resolved by reversed phase HPLC and monitored by coulometric chemical detection on a CoulArray detector. All eight catechin compounds were analyzed in a single chromatogram within 25 min. For plasma and urine analyses, good linearity (>0.9950) was validated in the range 10-2000 and 10-5000 ng/ml, respectively. The coefficients of variance (CV) were less than 5%. Absolute recovery was greater than 85% and detection limit was 5 ng/ml. The chromatogram exhibited minimal interference as a result of the highly selective solid phase extraction and CoulArray detection.     

Method for the determination of catechin and epicatechin enantiomers in cocoa-based ingredients and products by high-performance liquid chromatography: single-laboratory validation

A single-laboratory validation study was performed for an HPLC method to identify and quantify the flavanol enantiomers (+)- and (-)-epicatechin and (+)- and (-)-catechin in cocoa-based ingredients and products. These compounds were eluted isocratically with an ammonium acetate-methanol mobile phase applied to a modified beta-cyclodextrin chiral stationary phase and detected using fluorescence. Spike recovery experiments using appropriate matrix blanks, along with cocoa extract, cocoa powder, and dark chocolate, were used to evaluate accuracy, repeatability, specificity, LOD, LOQ, and linearity of the method as performed by a single analyst on multiple days. In all samples analyzed, (-)-epicatechin was the predominant flavanol and represented 68-91% of the total monomeric flavanols detected. For the cocoa-based products, within-day (intraday) precision for (-)-epicatechin was between 1.46-3.22%, for (+)-catechin between 3.66-6.90%, and for (-)-catechin between 1.69-6.89%; (+)-epicatechin was not detected in these samples. Recoveries for the three sample types investigated ranged from 82.2 to 102.1% at the 50% spiking level, 83.7 to 102.0% at the 100% spiking level, and 80.4 to 101.1% at the 200% spiking level. Based on performance results, this method may be suitable for routine laboratory use in analysis of cocoa-based ingredients and products.     

Development and validation of a HPLC method for determination of levonorgestrel and quinestrol in rat plasma

Levonorgestrel and quinestrol, commonly known as EP‐1, has long been used in the control of wild rodents. Up to the present time, however, no method for simultaneous quantification of levonorgestrel and quinestrol in rat plasma has been reported. In the present study, a sensitive reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (RP‐HPLC‐UV) method for quantification of levonorgestrel and quinestrol in rat plasma has been developed. It uses a Kromasil ODS C₁₈ column and acetonitrile‐0.1% formic acid (85 : 15, v/v) mobile phase at ambient temperature. The plasma sample was prepared by hexane–isoamyl alcohol extraction (90 : 10, v/v). The flow rate and detection wavelength were 1.0 mL/min and 230 nm. The correlation coefficients were greater than 0.9995 within 0.08–50 μg/mL for levonorgestrel and 0.12–50 μg/mL for quinestrol, and the limits of detection were 0.02 and 0.05 μg/mL for levonorgestrel and quinestrol, respectively. Average recovery ranged from 92.5 to 96.3% and inter‐day RSDs were less than 7.56%. This method can be applied to the further pharmacokinetic study of levonorgestrel and quinestrol in rat plasma. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and validation of HPLC method for imiquimod determination in skin penetration studies

A simple, rapid and sensitive analytical procedure for the measurement of imiquimod in skin samples after in vitro penetration studies has been developed and validated. In vitro penetration studies were carried out in Franz diffusion cells with porcine skin. Tape stripping technique was used to separate the stratum corneum (SC) from the viable epidermis and dermis. Imiquimod was extracted from skin samples using a 7:3 (v/v) methanol:acetate buffer (100 mM, pH 4.0) solution and ultrasonication. Imiquimod was analyzed by HPLC using C(8) column and UV detection at 242 nm. The mobile phase used was acetonitrile:acetate buffer (pH 4.0, 100 mM):diethylamine (30:69.85:0.15, v/v) with flow rate 1 mL/min. Imiquimod eluted at 4.1 min and the running time was limited to 6.0 min. The procedure was linear across the following concentration ranges: 100-2500 ng/mL for both SC and tape-stripped skin and 20-800 ng/mL for receptor solution. Intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision values were lower than 20% at the limit of quantitation. The recovery values ranged from 80 to 100%. The method is adequate to assay imiquimod from skin samples, enabling the determination of the cutaneous penetration profile of imiquimod by in vitro studies.     

Development and validation of an HPLC confirmatory method for the determination of seven tetracycline antibiotics residues in milk according to the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC

An HPLC method with diode-array detection, at 355 nm, was developed and validated for the determination of seven tetracyclines (TCs) in milk: minocycline (MNC), TC, oxytetracycline (OTC), methacycline (MTC), demeclocycline (DMC), chlortetracycline (CTC), and doxycycline (DC). Oxalate buffer (pH 4) was used with 20% TCA as a deproteinization agent for the extraction of analytes from milk followed by SPE. The separation was achieved on an Inertsil ODS-3, 5 microm, 250 x 4 mm(2 )analytical column at ambient temperature. The mobile phase, a mixture of A: 0.01 M oxalic acid and B: CH(3)CN, was delivered using a gradient program. The procedure was validated according to the European Union decision 2002/657/EC determining selectivity, stability, decision limit, detection capability, accuracy, and precision. Mean recoveries of TCs from spiked milk samples (50, 100, and 200 ng/g) were 93.8-100.9% for MNC, 96.8-103.7% for OTC, 96.3-101.8% for TC, 99.4-107.2% for DMC, 99.4-102.9% for CTC, 96.3-102.7% for MTC, and 94.6-102.1% for DC. All RSD values were lower than 8.5%. The decision limits CC(a) calculated by spiking 20 blank milk samples at MRL (100 microg/kg) ranged from 101.25 to 105.84 microg/kg, while detection capability CC(b )from 103.94 to 108.88 microg/kg.     

Chemometrically assisted optimization and validation of a new HPLC method for the determination of paliperidone in pharmaceuticals

Paliperidone is an antipsychotic drug, which is used for the acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia. In this study, a new method was developed for the determination of Paliperidone in its extended-release tablets. Face-centered central composite design was applied for optimization of the method. Factors were decided as acetonitrile content, pH of the mobile phase and buffer concentration through preliminary studies. Optimal flow rate (1?mL/min), column temperature (35°C) and internal standard (Bupropion) were also determined during preliminary studies. Retention factors and tailing factors of Paliperidone and Bupropion were selected as responses. Derringer’s desirability function was applied for simultaneously optimization of these four responses. Optimal conditions were predicted as phosphate buffer (pH:3, 23?mM): acetonitrile (76:24, v:v). Developed method was validated in terms of linearity, detection and quantification limits, accuracy, precision, specificity and robustness. Method was found linear in the concentration range of 0.125-100?µg/mL. Mean equation of the calibration curve was y?=?0.0807 x - 0.0102 (R²?=?0.9999). Accuracy and precision of the method was evaluated with recovery values (98-102%) and relative standard deviation values (<2%), respectively. All other parameters were found acceptable. The method was successfully applied for the determination of Paliperidone in its extended-release tablets.     

Development and validation of an HPLC confirmatory method for the determination of tetracycline antibiotics residues in bovine muscle according to the European Union regulation 2002/657/EC

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with diode-array detection, at 351 nm, was developed and validated for the determination of five tetracyclines (TCs): minocycline, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline in bovine muscle. Samples were macerated with a buffer solution, centrifuged, and purified using Abselut Nexus SPE cartridges. The separation of the examined TCs was achieved on an Inertsil ODS-3 5 microm, 250 x 4 mm analytical column, at ambient temperature. A multistep gradient elution was followed using 0.05 M oxalic acid and CH3CN, at a flow rate of 1.65 mL/min. The procedure was validated according to the European Union regulation 2002/657/EC determining selectivity, stability, decision limit, detection capability, accuracy, and precision. The results of the validation process demonstrate that the method can be readily applied to European Union statutory veterinary drug residue surveillance programmes. Mean recoveries of TCs from bovine muscle samples spiked at three concentrations (100, 250, and 400 ng/g) were in the range of 98.7-103.3%. Method's LOQ values achieved were 40 microg/kg for MNC, CTC, and DC and 25 microg/kg for OTC and TC. The decision limits (CCalpha) were in the range of 104.7-109.8 microg/kg, while the detection capability (CCbeta) was in the range of 108.4-116.7 microg/kg for all compounds.     

A new HPLC method with fluorescence detection for the determination of memantine in human plasma

A sensitive, selective, simple and fast HPLC method based on the formation of derivative with fluorescamine was developed for the determination of memantine (ME) in human plasma. Separation was achieved on a CN column (200 mm×4.6 mm) using acetonitrile-10 mM orthophosphoric acid containing 1 mL/L triethylamine (45:55, v/v) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Emission and excitation wavelengths were 480 and 380 nm, respectively. Amantadine was used as an internal standard. Calibration graphs were rectilinear over the range of 1.0-100.0 ng/mL. Limit of detection and limit of quantification were found to be 0.3 and 1.0 ng/mL, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviation values were found to be <2.03%. Average recovery was also found to be around 94%. Proposed method was applied for the pharmacokinetic study in a healthy volunteer after a single oral administration of 20 mg of ME.     

Supercritical fluid extraction and HPLC determination of relevant polyphenolic compounds in grape skin

The polyphenols determined are: (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, rutin, quercetin and trans-resveratrol. Suitable conditions of supercritical fluid extraction were established using ethanol as a modifier of the polarity solvent (supercritical carbon dioxide). Final extraction conditions were: 20% v/v ethanol, 60degreesC, 250 bars and flow rate 2 mL/min. Static step time and dynamic step time were established using a selected grape skin sample. The extract was collected in water; the more polar polyphenols ((+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin) remain in solution but rutin, quercetin and trans-resveratrol precipitate in this medium, thereby the solution of the extracted polyphenols was filtered. (+)-Catechin and (-)-epicatechin were determined in the liquid fraction, while the solid fraction, containing rutin, quercetin and trans-resveratrol, was solved with ethanol/H20 (40:60). HPLC determination was carried out at C18 stationary phase, with ethanol/water/acetic acid as mobile phases and UV-visible diode array detection. Due to the significant differences between the polarity of the polyphenols, two different mobile phases were used. An ethanol/water/acetic acid (5:93:2) mobile phase was used to determine (+)-catechin (280 nm) and (-)-epicatechin (280 nm). On the other hand, rutin (254 nm), quercetin (254 nm) and trans-resveratrol (306 nm) were resolved using ethanol/water/acetic acid (40:58:2) as mobile phase. Instrumental parameters were optimised and analytical parameters obtained. The analytical method was validated and applied to five different varieties of Vitis vinifera from the geographical area of Valencia.     

Development and validation of a rapid reversed-phase HPLC method for the determination of insulin from nanoparticulate systems

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed and validated for the determination of insulin in nanoparticulate dosage forms. Its application for the development and characterization of insulin-loaded nanoparticulates composed of polyelectrolytes has also been carried out. A reversed-phase (RP) C18 column and gradient elution with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile (ACN) and 0.1% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution at a flow rate of 1 mL/min was used. Protein identification was made by UV detection at 214 nm. The gradient changed from 30:70 (ACN:TFA, v/v) to 40:60 (v/v) in 5 min followed by isocratic elution at 40:60 (v/v) for a further five minutes. The method was linear in the range of 1-100 microg/mL (R2 = 0.9996), specific with a good inter-day and intra-day precision based on relative standard deviation values (less than 3.80%). The recovery was between 98.86 and 100.88% and the detection and quantitation limits were 0.24 and 0.72 microg/mL, respectively. The method was further tested for the determination of the association efficiency of insulin to nanoparticulate carriers composed of alginate and chitosan, as well as its loading capacity for this protein. Encapsulant release under simulated gastrointestinal fluids was evaluated. The method can be used for development and characterization of insulin-loaded nanoparticles made from cross-linked chitosan-alginate.     

Development and validation of a HPLC method for the determination of voriconazole in pharmaceutical formulation using an experimental design

A rapid and sensitive RP-HPLC method with UV detection (260 nm) for routine analysis of voriconazole in a pharmaceutical formulation (Vfend^®) was developed. Chromatography was performed with mobile phase containing a mixture of acetonitrile and water (50:50, v/v) with flow rate was of 1.0 ml min⁻¹. Quantitation was accomplished with internal standard method. The procedure was validated for linearity (correlation coefficient = 0.9999), accuracy, robustness and intermediate precision. Experimental design was used for validation of robustness and intermediate precision. To test robustness, three factors were considered. Percentage of acetonitrile in mobile phase, flow rate and p^H; an increase in the flow rate results in a decrease of the drug found concentration, while the percentage of organic modifier and p^H have no important effect on the response. For intermediate precision measure the variables considered were: analyst, equipment and number of days. The R.S.D. value (0.45%, n = 24) indicated a good precision of the analytical method. The proposed method was simple, highly sensitive, precise and accurate and retention time less than 4 min indicating that the method is useful for routine quality control.