Qualitative Identification and Semi-Quantitative Comparison of Sucrose in Maca (<i>Lepidium meyenii</i>) by Infrared Spectrum Analysis

Abstract

Objective: In order to establish a method for qualitative identification and semi-quantitative comparison of sucrose in Macas by infrared spectral analysis. Methods: Six Maca samples with three color types and from two producing areas in Yunnan province (China) were collected. Fourier trans-form infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of raw Maca, ethyl acetate extracts (EtOAc-E), alcohol extracts (EtOH-E) and extracted residues were recorded selectively. Comparative analysis and analysis-through-separation strategies were used to explore the FTIR analytical method for sucrose in Maca. Results: Sucrose was proved to be a component in the Lijiang purple Maca (LPM) sample by comparative analysis of FTIR and second derivative in-frared spectroscopy (SDIR) with sucrose as a reference substance. Relative higher content of sucrose might be responsible for the distinctive absorption character of FTIR from LPM. With the aid of comparative analysis and analysis-through-separation strategies, conclusions could be drawn that all of the six Maca samples in this research contained some sucrose more or less. Furthermore, relative content of sucrose in the LM was higher than those in HM in general. Conclusion: An infrared spectrum analysis method for qualitative identification and semi-quantitative comparison of sucrose in different Maca samples was developed. Compared with other analytical methods, the developed method shows unparalleled charm for its inherent merits of convenient, fast, low cost, visual, efficient et al.