A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method with pulsed amperometric detection for the determination of glycosides

We have developed a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography pulsed amperometric detection (RP-HPLC-PAD) method for the determination of glycosides. It is sensitive, repeatable, and selective without the pretreatment step. Ginsenosides were separated completely in 50 min using an water-acetonitrile gradient as the eluent and detected by PAD under NaOH alkaline conditions. The ginsenoside detection limit (S/N=3) was 0.02-0.07 ng and the quantification limit (S/N=10) was 0.1-0.2 ng. The coefficient of linear regression was 0.9984-0.9998 for concentrations between 1 and 50 microg/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision (RSD) was less than 6.35% in Ginseng Radix and Shy-jiun-tzyy-tang extracts. The average recoveries from Ginseng Radix and Shy-jiun-tzyy-tang extracts were 98.19-105.45% and 96.89-102.22%, respectively.     

Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography method of non-polar ginsenosides by alkaline-enhanced pulsed amperometric detection

We determined the minute amount of non-polar ginsenosides in red ginseng with a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-pulsed amperometric detection (RP-HPLC-PAD) method. Non-polar ginsenosides efficiently extracted by ethyl acetate were well separated in 40 min using a water–acetonitrile gradient eluent and detected by PAD under NaOH alkaline conditions. The ginsenoside detection limits (S/N = 3) were 0.03–0.10 ng. The coefficients of linear regression were 0.9972–0.9990. Intra- and inter-day precision (RSDs) was less than 8.34% and average recovery was 98.06–102.73%. The total amount of non-polar ginsenosides in hairy root of red ginseng was slightly higher than in the main root.     

Fluorimetric determination of hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase activity by high-performance liquid chromatography

A fluorimetric method for measuring the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) in the liver of mice has been developed. The liver homogenate was used as the enzyme source. The final concentration of glycine (substrate) used for the assay was 100 mM. The delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) formed during incubation was converted into a highly fluorescent derivative by condensation with acetylactone and formaldehyde (application of the Hantzsch reaction). This derivative was completely separated from other fluorescent substances in the reaction medium, and it was determined using a high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a fluorescence monitor (370/460 nm). The activity of ALAS was expressed as nmol ALA formed per gram liver per hour.     

Determination of aminosaccharides by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection

High-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAC) was used for the determination of aminosaccharides in microbial polymers, chitin, animal waste, sewage sludge, plant residues and soil. The aminosaccharides, galactosamine, mannosamine and glucosamine were separated on a strong anion-exchange column with 1OmM sodium hydroxide as the eluent and determined by pulsed amperometric detection (PAD). The HPAC-PAD methodology was compared with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with refractive index detection (RI) in terms of selectivity and sensitivity for aminosaccharides. The results indicate that HPAC-PAD required less sample preparation, and was more precise and nearly two orders of magnitude more sensitive than HPLC-RI. HPAC-PAD was not subject to matrix interferences and was highly selective for aminosaccharides. More than 3% of the total nitrogen in alfalfa, and 20% of that in straw, was found to be present as aminosaccharides.     

Development of a new diagnostic method for galactosemia by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection

We developed a new non-derivatization analytical method for the determination of galactose in the diagnosis of galactosemia by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC)-pulsed amperometric detection (PAD). With an anion-exchange column, the analytes were separated efficiently using 3mM NaOH containing 1mM NaOAc, and 200mM NaOH was added for post-column reagent. The limit of detection (S/N=3) and limit of quantification (S/N=10) for galactose were 25ng/mL and 83ng/mL, respectively. Linear dynamic range was from 4.67mg/dL to 53.46mg/dL (r(2)=0.9999). The mean recovery of galactose for intra-, inter-day assays were found to be of satisfactory results (98.14-101.42%).     

Separation of pesticides by high-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric detection

The possibility of the amperometric detection of a number of pesticides, such as benomyl, thiram, linuron, metoxuron, desmedipham, dicuron, lenacil, and fludioxonil, widely used in agrochemical practice was studied. The effect of the working electrode material (glassy carbon, nickel, and gold) and the type of the electrochemical cell on the value of the analytical signal was studied using the example of thiram. It was found that the optimum potential of the working electrode in analyzing a pesticide mixture was 1400 mV. The dependence of the analytical signal on the pesticide concentration was shown to be linear. The detection limits for the analytes were calculated. Using a 100-μL sample loop, all of the studied pesticides can be determined at the level of the maximum permissible concentration (MPC). The amperometric determination of seven pesticides at the level of MPC in real samples was shown by the examples of model mixtures dissolved in tap water and beetroot juice.     

Wheat gluten amino acid composition analysis by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with integrated pulsed amperometric detection

A simple accurate method for determining amino acid composition of wheat gluten proteins and their gliadin and glutenin fractions using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with integrated pulsed amperometric detection is described. In contrast to most conventional methods, the analysis requires neither pre- or post-column derivatization, nor oxidation of the sample. It consists of hydrolysis (6.0 M hydrochloric acid solution at 110 °C for 24 h), evaporation of hydrolyzates (110 °C), and chromatographic separation of the liberated amino acids. Correction factors (f) accounted for incomplete cleavage of peptide bonds involving Val (f = 1.07) and Ile (f = 1.13) after hydrolysis for 24 h and for Ser (f = 1.32) losses during evaporation. Gradient conditions including an extra eluent (0.1 M acetic acid solution) allowed multiple sequential sample analyses without risk of Glu contamination on the anion-exchange column. While gluten amino acid compositions by the present method were mostly comparable to those obtained by a conventional method involving oxidation, acid hydrolysis and post-column ninhydrin derivatization, the latter method underestimated Tyr, Val and Ile levels. Results for the other amino acids obtained by the different methods were linearly correlated (r > 0.99, slope = 1.03).     

Improved determination of taurine by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with integrated pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-IPAD)

The advantages of the high selectivity of high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) and the sensitive response of taurine at a gold electrode with integrated pulsed amperometric detection (IPAD) have been combined, in order to establish a new analytical method for its determination in real matrices. Potential-time settings of the potential waveform were optimized in order to get the highest amperometric response. The separation of taurine in milk samples was achieved using an alkaline eluent (100 mM NaOH) containing 1 mM Ba(OAc)₂ and a column temperature of 15 °C. The inherent merits of using a barium-modified eluent, in terms of taurine separation and detection, are demonstrated. The enhancement in sensitivity under these experimental conditions makes it suitable for taurine determination in milk. Indeed, this method allows high recovery of taurine and satisfies the necessary requirements with respect to accuracy, repeatability and sensitivity with a detection limit of 50 nmol/L, which corresponds to 2.5 pmol. The taurine content in milk samples of some common mammals was evaluated, including human milk. In goats milk, the taurine content ranged from 46 to 91 mg/L, whereas human and buffalo milk samples exhibited an average content of 18 mg/L and 23 mg/L, respectively.     

Quantitative determination of taurine in real samples by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with integrated pulsed amperometric detection

As taurine is a very important compound involved in a large number of metabolic processes, it is naturally present in the mammal tissues and is often deliberately added in some foods as a fortifying component. A detailed knowledge of taurine metabolic roles in biological systems can be obtained only if a sensitive, reliable and rapid analytical method is available. This article describes the successful application of high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with integrated pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-IPAD) for taurine determination in egg white and yolk samples, as well extracts of human serum and urine. Applications are shown for determination of taurine in soft drinks and pharmaceutical preparations where the taurine content was evaluated by standard additions. These results were achieved without prior derivatization of taurine.     

Determination of glycuronic acids by high-performance anion chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection

Summary Acid hydrolysis (0.25M H₂SO₄) coupled with enzyme catalysis (pectolyase and β-D-glucuronidase) were employed to extract galacturonic and glucuronic acids from microbial polysaccharides, plant residues, animal wastes, sewage sludge and soil. The glycuronic acids were separated by high-performance anion chromatography (HPAC) on a strong anion-exchange column using 0.1M sodium hydroxide with 0.25M sodium acetate as the mobile phase and determined by pulsed amperometric detection (PAD). HPAC-PAD was found to be superior to high-performance liquid chromatography with ultra-violet (UV) detection in terms of resolution and sensitivity of glycuronic acids. HPAC-PAD was not subject to interferences present with low UV detection (210 nm) and was highly selective for glycuronic acids. Enzymatic hydrolysis after treatment with mild acid (0.25M H₂SO₄) released galacturonic acids from orange peel and pectin, while glucuronic acid was released from Acacia powder. Large amounts of glycuronic acids were also extracted from plant materials. Low levels of uronic acids were detected in poultry manure, sewage sludge and organic-amended soils.     

A direct method for the separation and quantification of bile acid acyl glycosides by high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scattering detector

A direct method for the separation and quantification of a series of bile acid acyl glycosides using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to an evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) is described. Complete separation of each of 15 bile acid acyl 24-alpha-glucosides and their 24-beta-anomers and 24-beta-galactosides was achieved by the stepwise gradient elution mode on a C18 column using a mixture of acetonitrile-methanol (8:2, v/v) and 1% aqueous acetic acid as the mobile phase. 24-beta-Galactosides were always eluted faster than the corresponding 24-beta-glucosides, which eluted after the corresponding 24-alpha-anomers. Calibration curves of different 24-beta-galactosides were linear over a range of 0.2-40 nmol of injected amount and the detection limits (S/N > 3) were from 0.08 to 0.1 nmol. The present HPLC-ELSD method may provide an insight into the separation and quantification of the biologically interesting neutral bile acids.     

Determination of aliphatic aldehydes by liquid chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection

An electrochemical detection method for short-chain saturated and unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes separated by liquid chromatography in moderately acidic medium is described. A triple-step waveform of the potentials applied to the polycrystalline platinum electrode, is proposed for sensitive detection of aliphatic aldehydes in flowing streams avoiding tedious pre- or post-column derivatization and/or cleanup procedures. The influences of the perchloric acid concentration and dissolved oxygen in the mobile phase, on the amperometric and chromatographic performance were evaluated and considered in terms of sensitivity and selectivity. Under the optimised experimental conditions (i.e., deoxygenated 50mM HClO4) the proposed analytical method allowed detection limits between 0.2 microM for acrolein and 2.5 microM for valeraldehyde. Regression analysis of calibration data indicates that responses for all investigated compounds are linear over about 2 orders of magnitude above the LOD, with correlation coefficients >0.990. The method was successfully applied to the determination of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde and acrolein in real matrices such as spiked water and red wines with good mean recoveries (81-97%).     

Analysis of etimicin sulfate by liquid chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection

A new method for determination of etimicin's (ETM) purity and content is developed by liquid chromatography (LC) and pulsed amperometric detection (PAD). A reversed-phase ion-pair LC method with pulsed amperometric detection on a gold electrode after post-added NaOH is described. The mobile phase consisted of an aqueous solution containing 0.033 mol L(-1) oxalic acid, 0.012 mol L(-1) heptafluorobutyric acid, and 210 mL L(-1) acetonitrile with pH 3.40 adjusting by dilute NaOH solution. The total analysis time was not more than 30 min. The effects of the different chromatographic parameters on the separation were also investigated. A number of commercial samples of etimicin sulfate were analyzed using this method.     

Detection of albiflorin and paeoniflorin in Paeoniae Radix by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection

We have developed a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-pulsed amperometric detection (RP-HPLC-PAD) method for the detection of albiflorin and paeoniflorin in Paeoniae Radix and Wu-ji-san. Albiflorin and paeoniflorin were completely separated using 10% acetonitrile in 5 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 3.0) as an eluent and detected by PAD under alkaline conditions after using a post-column delivery system. The limit of detection (S/N = 3) and the limit of quantification (S/N = 10) were 0.10 and 0.35 ng for albiflorin, and 0.20 and 0.50 ng for paeoniflorin, respectively. The coefficients of linear regression were 0.9995 and 0.9999 for concentrations between 0.035 and 100 μg/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision (RSDs) was less than 3.56% in Paeoniae Radix and Wu-ji-san. The average recoveries from Paeoniae Radix and Wu-ji-san were 99.01–100.94% and 99.46–100.64%. This method shows higher selectivity than HPLC–UV method for analyzing albiflorin and paeoniflorin in Chinese medicinal preparation.     

Quantitative determination of indapamide in pharmaceuticals and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric detection.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with amperometric detection for the determination of the diuretic indapamide using a muBondapak C18 column is developed. The mobile phase consists of an acetonitrile-water mixture (45:55, 5 mM) in KH2PO4-K2HPO4 (pH 4.0). The compound is monitored at +1200 mV with an amperometric detector equipped with a glassy carbon working electrode. A liquid-liquid or solid-liquid extraction is performed prior to chromatographic analysis to avoid the interferences found in urine matrix. Percentages of recovery are 88.3 +/- 5.6 and 82.9 +/- 7.8 for liquid-liquid and solid-liquid extraction, respectively. The developed method has a linear concentration range from 25 to 315 ng/mL with a reproducibility in terms of relative standard deviation of 4% for a concentration level of 0.5 microgram/mL and a quantitation limit of 1 ng/mL. The method is applied to the determination of indapamide in tablets and urine obtained from hypertensive patients after the ingestion of Tertensif (indapamide 2.5 mg).