Enhanced analysis of triterpenes, flavonoids and phenolic compounds in Prunella vulgaris L. by capillary zone electrophoresis with the addition of running buffer modifiers

A cyclodextrin-modified capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed for the separation and determination of three isomeric compounds (ursolic acid, oleanolic acid and betulinic acid), caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, rosmarinic acid, rutin and quercetin. Without the addition of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and methanol, the separation of these analytes was poorly resolved. These eight compounds, however, were well separated from each other within 20 min with a borax running buffer (40 mM of borax, pH 9.4) containing 2mM beta-CD and 4% (v/v) methanol at the voltage of 25 kV, temperature of 25 degrees C and detection wavelength of 210 nm. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of migration time ranged from 0.16 to 0.74% while those of the peak area ratios ranged from 2.17 to 4.61% for six determinations of the analytes at concentration of 10 and 25 microg mL(-1). The correlation coefficients of the calibration curves of the analytes were all >0.998, and the recoveries were from 96.8 to 103.6%. The method was successfully applied to determine these bioactive components in the samples of Prunella vulgaris L. and its beverage drink products. Our results reveal that only the isomeric compounds and rosmarinic acid could be detected in the spikes of P. vulgaris L.; other components were either too low to be detected or not present while only rosmarinic acid was detected in the beverage products.     

Monitoring of the conversion from triptolide to tripchlorolide in Triptergium wilfordii by micellar electrokinetic caillary chromatography

A novel concocting method to convert Triptolide (T) into Tripchlorolide (T(4)) in the traditional Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. and a micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic (MEKC) approach by which the conversion of Triptolide (T) and Tripchlorolide (T(4)) was identified and determined had been established. Investigations of the influence of different pH values of boric acid and borax buffer and of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and organic additive concentrations had been carried out, and the optimum separation for T and T(4) was achieved using boric acid and borax of pH 7.0 with 30 mM SDS and 20% (volume ratio) methanol as the running buffer. It was found that MEKC exhibited good accuracy, precision and repeatability and the content of T(4) was greatly increased in the herb that was treated by the new concocting method.     

Quantification of ganciclovir in human plasma using capillary electrophoresis

A fast, simple, specific capillary electrophoretic method in the MEKC mode for the quantification of the antiviral drug ganciclovir is described. The separation was obtained using a 50 microm id fused-silica capillary, 60 mM borax buffer (pH 9.25) containing 40 mM SDS using ethenoadenosine as the internal standard. Sample preparation was done by ultrafiltration with a Microcon 30 000 kDa filter. The analytes were detected with UV detector at 254 nm. A sufficient sensitivity was achieved by using a bubble cell capillary. The linear range was from 0.5 to 10 mg/L with a LOQ of 0.5 mg/L. Correlation coefficients were better than 0.999 whereas inter- and intraday precision and accuracy were less than 10.7%. The analysis of patients' samples after administration of ganciclovir indicates that the method is suitable for drug monitoring in the clinic.     

Analysis of lamotrigine and its metabolites in human plasma and urine by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

A reliable micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic method was developed and validated for the determination of lamotrigine and its metabolites in human plasma and urine. The variation of different parameters, such as pH of the background electrolyte (BGE) and Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration, were evaluated in order to find optimal conditions. Best separation of the analytes was achieved using a BGE composed of 10 mM borate and 50 mM SDS, pH 9.5; melatonin was selected as the internal standard. Isolation of lamotrigine and its metabolites from plasma and urine was accomplished with an original solid-phase extraction procedure using hydrophilic-lypophilic balance cartridges. Good absolute recovery data and satisfactory precision values were obtained. The calibration plots for lamotrigine and its metabolites were linear over the 1-20 microg/mL concentration range. Sensitivity was satisfactory; the limits of detection and quantitation of lamotrigine were 500 ng/mL and 1 microg/mL, respectively. The application of the method to real plasma samples from epileptic patients under therapy with lamotrigine gave good results in terms of accuracy and selectivity, and in agreement with those obtained with an high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.     

Thousand fold concentration of an alkaloid in capillary zone electrophoresis by micelle to solvent stacking

In this paper, the co-solvent of methanol-water was used to facilitate the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles collapse, thereby inducing the on-line sample focusing technique of micelle to solvent stacking (MSS). To demonstrate this stacking method, the mechanism of micelles collapse in co-solvent was discussed. The details of the required conditions were investigated and the optimized conditions were: running buffer, 20mM H(3)BO(3) and 20mM NaH(2)PO(4) solution (pH 4.0); micellar sample matrix, 20mM SDS, 20mM H(3)BO(3) and 20mM NaH(2)PO(4) solution (pH 4.0); co-solvent buffer, 20mM H(3)BO(3) and 20mM NaH(2)PO(4) in methanol/water (90:10, v/v). The validity of the developed method was tested using cationic alkaloid compounds (ephedrine and berberine) as model analytes. Under the optimized conditions, this proposed method afforded limits of detection (LODs) of 0.5 and 1.1ng/mL with 300 and 1036-fold improvements in sensitivity for ephedrine and berberine, respectively, within 15min.     

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography determination of zinc bacitracin and nystatin in animal feed

An MEKC procedure was developed for the separation of zinc bacitracin (Zn-BC) and nystatin (NYS) in mixtures and in animal feedstuff. The running buffer was 15 mM borate/19 mM phosphate, pH 8.2, containing 20 mM SDS and 10% v/v methanol. Samples were run at 25 degrees C, the applied voltage was 25 kV, and an additional pressure of 5 mbar was applied. Both analytes were detected by UV simultaneously at 215 nm, Zn-BC alone at 192 and 254 nm, and NYS alone at 305 nm. The method was shown to be specific, accurate (recoveries were 100.0 +/- 0.6% and 100.1 +/- 0.6% for Zn-BC and NYS, respectively), linear over the tested range (correlation coefficients 0.9991 and 0.9994), and precise (RSD below 1.3% for both analytes). The method was applied to determine Zn-BC and NYS as additives in animal feed.     

On-line preconcentration of weak electrolytes by electrokinetic accumulation in CE: experiment and simulation

A new on-line preconcentration technique was developed that makes possible to determine nanomolar concentrations of weak acidic analytes in CE. The method consists of long-running electrokinetic sample injection and stacking (electrokinetic immobilization) of the analytes at a boundary of two electrolytes with different pH values (pH 9.5 and 2.5) and consequent mobilization of the stacked uncharged analytes in a micellar system (containing SDS micelles). Several factors including buffer concentration, pH, applied voltage, time of preconcentration, and SDS concentration were tested to optimize the analysis method. An about 4600-fold increase of the sample concentration (in comparison with the standard CZE) can be achieved during the preconcentration step. Two preservatives applied in food industry -- benzoic acid and sorbic acid were used as model samples. The applicability of the proposed method in food analysis was demonstrated by determination of nanomolar concentrations of benzoic acid in sunflower oil. An extended version of the computer program Simul was used for modeling both the preconcentration and mobilization processes taking place in the capillary.     

An Insight into Peak‐Splitting Phenomenon in On‐Column Concentration‐Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography for Aqueous Sample Solution

Abstract

A detailed study was carried out to investigate the origin of the peak‐splitting phenomena in on‐column concentration‐micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for aqueous sample solution. The system studied was a basic phosphate and borax mixed buffer with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as micellar phase. Phenol, benzyl alcohol, phenyl ethanol, salicylic acid, and p‐hydroxy benzyl acid were selected as the analytes. Several factors that affect peak splitting were investigated. The injection time, SDS micellar concentration, hydrophobicity of the analytes, and analytes concentration were the most important factors. A hypothesis was proposed to explain the peak‐splitting phenomena. Several means to avoid peak‐splitting phenomena were proposed, such as controlling sample injection time and hydrophobicity of the analyte, decreasing SDS concentration and increasing sample concentration. However, the most practical method for avoiding peak splitting was to control the sample injection time.     

Methodology for predicting the separation of proteins by hydrophobic interaction chromatography and its application to a cell extract

Ligand-exchange micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography was used for the chiral resolution of underivatized and dansyl amino acid enantiomers simultaneously. The separation was achieved by chiral copper(II)-L-valine complexes incorporated in micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The enantioresolution was strongly affected by SDS and a concentration of 20 mM SDS was shown to be necessary for the separation. Other impacting factors were investigated including pH, the molar ratio of copper(II) to L-valine and the total concentration of complex. Using the proposed method, 11 different dansyl amino acids and two underivatized amino acids were separated successfully with a running electrolyte of 20 mM NH4OAc, 4 mM CuSO4, 8 mM L-valine and 20 mM SDS at pH 9.0 in less than 25 min. Experiments were also performed with other amino acid ligands in order to vary the stability and the sterical arrangement of the copper(II) complexes and the possible chiral recognition mechanism was also discussed briefly.     

Trace-level determination of triazines and several degradation products in environmental waters by disk solid-phase extraction and micellar electrokinetic chromatography

An analytical method combining disk solid-phase extraction with micellar electrokinetic chromatography has been developed for the determination of atrazine, simazine, hydroxyatrazine, deisopropylatrazine, deethylatrazine, propazine and prometryn in water samples. The influence of the buffer and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration, pH and organic modifier on the separation has been studied. Baseline separation of the seven triazines was achieved under the following conditions: 10 mM borate buffer, 60 mM SDS, 20% methanol and pH 9.2. C18-bonded silica and poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB) disks were evaluated for solid-phase extraction of the selected pesticides (11 of water sample). Using two PS-DVB disks, quantitative recoveries were obtained for all pesticides tested. The method was successfully applied for the determination of the seven triazines in drinking and well water at the 0.1 microg l(-1) and 0.5 microg l(-1) concentration levels, respectively. The detection limits for these analytes using the proposed analytical method were within the 0.02-0.06 microg l(-1) range in drinking water and the 0.06-0.30 microg l(-1) range in well water.     

Identification and determination of active anthraquinones in Chinese teas by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

The simultaneous determination of emodin, aloe-emodin and rhein, in Semen Cassiae, Qinghai Wild Dahuang tea, Ningxia Juemingzi tea, Lanzhou Juemingzi tea and Surong Juemingzi tea, has been investigated by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for the fi rst time. With an electrolyte containing 15 mm borax, 30 mm SDS, 10% (v/v) ethanol, at pH 9.60 and 20 kV applied voltage, the three analytes were completely separated within 12 min. The effects of the concentration of borax, electrolyte pH, the concentrations of SDS and organic modifier and the applied voltage on electropheoretic behavior and separation were studied. The linear calibration range was 4-120 micro g/mL (r = 0.9921) for emodin, 10-200 micro g/mL (r = 0.9970) for aloe-emodin and 2-100 micro g/mL (r = 0.9971) for rhein, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the relative standard deviation (RSD) values (n = 6) of the migration time and the peak area of each peak was 0.59-0.80% and 1.30-3.22%, respectively. The contents of the analytes in Rheum, Qinghai Wild Dahuang tea, Semen Cassiae and three other kinds of teas were easily determined with recoveries ranging from 95.3 to 104.4%.     

Cation-selective exhaustive injection and sweeping MEKC for direct analysis of methamphetamine and its metabolites in urine

Direct analysis of methamphetamine, amphetamine, and p-hydroxymethamphetamine in urine was achieved by cation-selective exhaustive injection and sweeping micellar EKC. A bare fused-silica capillary (40 cm, 50 microm id) was filled with phosphate buffer (80 mM, pH 3, containing 20% ACN). Then a high-conductivity buffer (100 mM phosphate, pH 3; 6.9 kPa for 2.5 min) was injected. Samples were loaded using electrokinetic injection (10 kV, 600 s) which created long zones of cationic analytes. To enhance sensitivity by sweeping, the stacking step was performed using a phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 3, containing 20% ACN and 100 mM SDS) at -20 kV before separation by MEKC. This method was capable of detecting the analytes at ppb levels. The calibration plots were linear (r(2) >or= 0.9948) over a range of 100-5000 ng/mL for methamphetamine, and 100-2000 ng/mL for amphetamine and p-hydroxymethamphetamine. The LODs (S/N = 3) were 20 ng/mL for methamphetamine, and 15 ng/mL for amphetamine and p-hydroxymethamphetamine. The method was applied to analysis of 14 urine samples of addicts and is suitable for screening suspected samples for forensic purposes. The results showed good agreement with fluorescence polarization immunoassay and GC-MS.     

动态pH联接-扫集毛细管电泳法测定化妆品中迷迭香酸的含量

采用动态pH联接-扫集毛细管电泳法对化妆品中的迷迭香酸进行检测。用重力进样的方式,进样高度为15 cm的情况下,研究了硼砂浓度、pH、十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)浓度、甲醇浓度、样品基体、进样时间、分离电压对富集与分离的影响。优化后的实验条件:15 mmol/L硼砂-45 mmol/L SDS(pH8.8)-15%甲醇为缓冲液,进样时间60s,分离电压16kV,样品中磷酸盐浓度10 mmol/L,样品基质pH 4.7。在上述条件下,迷迭香酸(RA)的线性回归方程式为y=539200ρ+53588(r=0.9985),线性范围为0.144～3.6μg/mL,检出限0.036μg/mL,迷迭香酸的回收率为92.5%～103%,相对标准偏差为2.5%。     

Far infrared-assisted extraction followed by MEKC for the simultaneous determination of flavones and phenolic acids in the leaves of Rhododendron mucronulatum Turcz

A method based on micellar electrokinetic chromatography with amperometric detection and far infrared‐assisted extraction has been developed for the simultaneous determination of two flavones (rutin and farrerol) and three phenolic acids (syringic acid, vanillic acid, and 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid) in the dried leaves of Rhododendron mucronulatum Turcz., a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. The effects of some important factors such as the voltage applied on the infrared generator, irradiation time, the concentration of borate and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), separation voltage, and detection potential were investigated to acquire the optimum conditions. The detection electrode was a 300‐μm diameter carbon disc electrode. The five analytes could be well separated within 8 min in a 40 cm‐long capillary at a separation voltage of 12 kV in a 50 mM borate buffer (pH 9.2) containing 50 mM SDS. The relationship between peak current and analyte concentration was linear over about three orders of magnitude with the detection limits (S/N=3) ranging from 0.20 to 0.46 μM. The results indicated that far infrared irradiations significantly enhanced the extraction efficiency. The extraction time was substantially reduced to 6 min compared with 3 h for conventional hot solvent extraction.     

Micelle to solvent stacking of two alkaloids in nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis

This paper for the first time describes the development of micelle to solvent stacking (MSS) to nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE). In this proposed MSS-NACE, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles transport, release, and focus analytes from the sample solution to the running buffer using methanol as their solvent. After the focusing step, the focused analytes were separated via NACE. The focusing mechanism and influencing factors were discussed using berberine (BBR) and jatrorrhizine (JTZ) as model compounds. And the optimum condition was obtained as following: 50 mM ammonium acetate, 6% (v/v) acetic acid and 10 mM SDS in redistilled water as sample matrix, 50 mM ammonium acetate and 6% (v/v) acetic acid in pure methanol as the running buffer, -20 kV focusing voltage with 30 min focusing time. Under these conditions, this method afforded limits of detection (S/N=3) of 0.002 μg/mL and 0.003 μg/mL for BBR and JTZ, respectively. In contrast to conventional NACE, the concentration sensitivity was improved 128-153-fold.     

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography method for the determination of several natural red dyestuff and lake pigments used in art work

The identification of organic colorants used in artistic paintings is an important information source for reconstructing the working techniques found in a particular work and for defining a programme for the restoration and conservation of the painting. In this work, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used as a surfactant in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) for separating a broad range of red organic pigments, based on their colouring matters: madder (colouring matters: alizarin, quinizarin and purpurin), cochineal (colouring matter: carminic acid), red sandalwood (colouring matter: santalin), brazilwood (colouring matter: brazilin), lac dye (colouring matter: laccaic acid) and dragon's blood (colouring matter: dracorhodin). The running electrolyte used was 20 mM borax (pH 9), containing 20 mM SDS and 10% acetonitrile as organic modifier. Separation was carried out by applying a +20 kV voltage at the injection end, 25 degrees C and 214 nm/254 nm as detection wavelengths. All colorants were separated within less than 13 min with a good baseline resolution. The method was applied to the analysis of paint samples obtained from the Diocesan Museum of Holy Art of Bilbao.     

Application of a multivariate approach for analyte focusing by micelle collapse‐micellar electrokinetic chromatography for analyzing sunscreen agents in cosmetics

The operating parameters that affect the performance of the online preconcentration technique “analyte focusing by micelle collapse‐MEKC (AFMC‐MEKC)” were examined using a multivariate approach involving experimental design to determine the sunscreen agents in cosmetics. Compared to the single‐variable approach, the advantage of the multivariate approach was that many factors could be investigated simultaneously to obtain the best separation condition. A fractional factorial design was used to identify the fewest significant factors in the central composite design (cCD). The cCD was adopted for evaluating the location of the minimum or maximum response in this study. The influences of the experimental variables on the response were investigated by applying a chromatographic exponential function. The optimized condition and the relationship between the experimental variables were acquired using the JMP software. The ANOVA analysis indicated that the Tris pH value, SDS concentration, and ethanol percentage influenced the separation quality and significantly contributed to the model. The optimized condition of the running buffer was 10 mM Tris buffer (pH 9.5) containing 60 mM SDS, 7 mM γ‐CD, and 20% v/v ethanol. The sample was prepared in 100 mM Tris buffer (pH 9.0) containing 7.5 mM SDS and 20% v/v ethanol. The SDS concentration in the sample matrix was slightly greater than the CMC value that makes the micelle be easily collapsed and the analytes be accumulated in the capillary. In addition, sunscreen agents in cosmetics after 1000‐fold dilution were successfully determined by AFMC‐MEKC.     

Migration behaviour and separation of tramadol metabolites and diastereomeric separation of tramadol glucuronides by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis with UV detection was used to separate tramadol (TR), a centrally acting analgesic, and its five phase I (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) and three phase II metabolites (glucuronides of M1, M4 and M5). Several factors were evaluated in optimisation of the separation: pH and composition of the background electrolyte and the influence of a micellar modifier, sodium dodecyl sulfate. Baseline separation of TR and all the analytes was obtained with use of 65 mM tetraborate electrolyte solution at pH 10.65. The lowest concentrations of the analytes that could be detected were below 1 microM for the O-methylated, below 2 microM for the phenolic and ca. 7 microM for the glucuronide metabolites. The suitability of the method for screening of real samples was tested with an authentic urine sample collected after a single oral dose (50 mg) of TR. After purification and five-fold concentration of the sample (solid-phase extraction with Oasis MCX cartridges), the parent drug TR and its metabolites M1, M1G, M5 and M5G were easily detected, in comparison with standards, in an interference-free area of the electropherogram. Diastereomeric separation of TR glucuronides in in vitro samples was achieved with 10 mM ammonium acetate-100 mM formic acid electrolyte solution at pH 2.75 and with basic micellar 25 mM tetraborate-70 mM SDS electrolyte solution at pH 10.45. Both separations showed that glucuronidation in vitro produces glucuronide diastereomers in different amounts. The authentic TR urine sample was also analysed by micellar method, but unambiguous identification of the glucuronide diastereomers was not achieved owing to many interferences.     

Simultaneous determination of active ingredients in ethnomedicine Gaultheria leucocarpa var. yunnanensis and its medicinal preparation by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

A simple and rapid capillary electrophoresis (CE) with electrcochemical detection (ED) method has been established for the simultaneous determination of seven active ingredients in the stems and roots of Gaultheria leucocarpa var. yunnanensis and its medicinal preparation, including (+)-catechin, rutin, gentisic acid, vallinic acid, salicylic acid, quercetin, and protocatechuic acid. The effects of working potential, pH, and concentration of running buffer, separation voltage, and injection time on CE-ED are systematically investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the seven analytes could be completely separated within 23 min in a borax running buffer (pH 8.7). A good linear relationship is obtained over three orders of magnitude with detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio=3) ranging from 5x10(-8) g/mL to 3x10(-7) g/mL for the analytes. The proposed method is successfully used in the analysis of real samples after a relatively simple extraction procedure, and the assay results are satisfactory.     

Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid γ‐aminobutyric acid by capillary electrophoresis with laser‐induced fluorescence detection

The measurement of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) is suitable for investigating various neurological disorders. In this study, a sensitive and selective method for free GABA quantification in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been standardised. This method is based on CE with LIF detection using 4‐fluoro‐7‐nitrobenzo‐2‐oxa‐1,3‐diazole (NBD‐F) as a derivatisating agent. The reaction conditions (NBD‐F concentration, pH, temperature and reaction time) and the electrophoretic parameters (run buffer composition and pH and separation voltage) were optimised to obtain the maximum derivatisation efficiency and electrophoretic resolution. The best resolution was obtained using 200 mM sodium borate, 10 mM SDS, 8.5 mM β‐CD, pH 10 and 20 kV voltage. The method was linear in the concentration range of 2.5–1000 nM with good inter‐ and intra‐assay precision values. The effects of CSF handling on free GABA concentrations were also evaluated. Our results show that the time delay between CSF collection and freezing strongly increases the CSF GABA values. Age‐related reference values were established in 55 paediatric controls. The influence of antiepileptic therapy on free CSF GABA was studied in 38 neuropaediatric patients. Significantly, higher GABA values were obtained in patients taking valproic acid or vigabatrin therapy, which are antiepileptic drugs that modulate GABA metabolism.