The use of SEP-PAKTM C18 Cartridges in the Preparation of Bile Acid Methyl Ester Acetates

Abstract

A method is described for the rapid and Quantitative extraction of bile acid derivates by Sep-Pak^TM C₁₈ cartridge. The method is used for the preparation of bile acid methyl ester acetates. The method was validated by determining the efficiency and the recovery of radiolabelled taurine-conjugated and free bile acids and of bile acid containing biological samples, by thin-layer chromatography with zonal scanning after each step and by internal standardization withing the gas-chromatographic analysis. The recovery of bile acids after hydrolysis amounted to 93.7% ± 2.7%, 97.7% ± 3.6% and 100% ± 2.3% for gallbladder bile, serum bile and mixtures of pure bile acids resp. The recovery of cholic acid methyl ester acetate and chenodeoxycholic acid methyl ester acetate after the entire procedure, including hydrolysis Sep-Pak^TM -extraction, methylation, acetylation and again Sep-Pak^TM -extraction, amounted to 85.6% ± 4.6%, 88.4% ± 5.3% and 89.3% ± 3.5% for gallbladder bile acids, serum bile acids and bile acid mixtures resp. It is concluded that Sep-Pak^TM can efficiently be used in the preparation of bile acid methyl ester acetates, thereby avoiding time-consuming and inconsistent extractions.