Coulometric Electrode Array System Research Articles

Determination of Tanshinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with a Coulometric Electrode Array System

A method was developed for the determination of tanshiones (Cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, and tanshinone IIA) in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza Bunge) using high performance liquid chromatography with the coulometric electrode array system (HPLC-CEAD). The analysis was carried out on a column of Hypersil C18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with a mobile phase of sodium acetate (pH 2.8, 50 mM) and acetonitrile in the proportion of 45:55. Detection potentials of four electrodes in series were set at − 600, − 400, 100, and 500 mV, respectively. The pH of the mobile phase and the proportion of acetonitrile were optimized in this work. Calibration curves showed good linearity with correlation coefficients of more than 0.9979, the average recoveries of tanshiones were more than 94%, and the relative standard deviations were less than 5.3%. The HPLC-CEAD method was stable, sensitive, and reproducible for the determination of tanshiones S. miltiorrhiza Bunge.

Development of a fingerprint of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by high-performance liquid chromatography with a coulometric electrode array system

To standardize and control herbal medicines, a feasible approach and control system is necessary. In this paper, a high-performance liquid chromatography with a coulometric electrode array detector (HPLC-CEAD) system was applied to fingerprint Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge ( S. miltiorrhiza Bunge), a popular herbal medicine, for the first time. pH of mobile phase, working potentials and sample preparation were included in our research. Twenty-five common peaks were obtained from extracts of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge (Shandong province), more than that obtained in previous report. Fingerprints of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge from different locations were also studied. The content of main components varied in different samples. Overlapping ratio of peaks (ORP) in 10 batches of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge (Shandong province) was not less than 72.46%. In method validation, relative standard deviation (RSD) of relative retention times and relative peak areas were of not more than 3%. It was concluded that HPLC-CEAD system can be applied in fingerprinting herbal medicines.

Simultaneous Determination of Monoamines, Their Precursor Amino Acids, and Related Metabolites in Mice Brain by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography with a Coulometric Electrode Array System

A method based on high performance liquid chromatography with a coulometric electrode array system (HPLC‐coulometric electrode array) using C18 column has been developed for the simultaneous determination of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), l‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (l‐DOPA), p‐tyrosine (p‐TYR), dopamine (DA), m‐tyrosine (m‐TYR), 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA) in mice brain. The chromatography was performed using a C18 column (250 mm×4.6 mm i.d. and 5 µm) with sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.0, 0.05 M) and methanol as the mobile phase. Elution of analytes was carried out at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The nine compounds were monitored using an ESA electrochemical detector. Potentials of three electrodes in series were set at 200, 500, and 700 mV, respectively. Optimization of the pH of the mobile phase and the proportion of methanol were also considered. The minimal detection limits were 2–8 ng/ml. Linear (r=0.99) detector performances were observed within a range of 10∼2000 ng/ml. Recoveries for the nine compounds in spiked samples were over 90% and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were less than 4.0%.

Determination of four water-soluble compounds in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by high-performance liquid chromatography with a coulometric electrode array system

A method has been developed to determine the four water-soluble components-Danshensu (I), protocatechuic acid (II), protocatechuic aldehyde (III) and salvianolic acid B (IV) in Chinese medicine plant Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge using high-performance liquid chromatography with a coulometric electrode array detection (HPLC-CEAD) system. Heat reflux extraction was used to pretreat the sample. This analysis was carried on a column of Hypersil C18 (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) with a mobile phase of sodium acetate (pH 2.5, 50 mM) and acetonitrile in gradient mode. An ESA electrochemical detector monitored the four compounds. Potentials of four electrodes in series were set at 100, 150, 200 and 250 mV, respectively. Optimization of the pH of mobile phase and the proportion of acetonitrile were also performed. Calibration curve showed good linearity with correlation coefficients (r) more than 0.9937. Average recoveries of the four compounds were more than 92% and relative standard deviations were less than 6.6%. This method appeared to be stable, sensitive and reproducible for determination of the four water-soluble compounds in Chinese medicine plant S. miltiorrhiza Bunge.

Determination of tetracyclines in ovine milk by high-performance liquid chromatography with a coulometric electrode array system

A method has been developed to analyze residual tetracyclines (TCs) (oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (CTC), methacycline (MTC), doxycycline (DC)) in ovine milk, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a coulometric electrode array system. The samples were pretreated, using liquid–liquid extraction based on hexane. The chromatography was performed, using a C 18 column (150 mm × 4 mm i.d. and 5 μm) with a mobile phase: sodium phosphate monobasic dihydrate (pH 2.2, 0.05 M)–acetonitrile (78:22, v/v). The flow rate of mobile phase was kept constantly at 1ml/min. The residues were monitored by an ESA electrochemical detector. Potentials of four electrodes in series were set at 400, 660, 680 and 700 mV, respectively. The first electrode was set to remove those interfering substances that may co-elute with TCs and the other three electrodes were used for quantification. The maximal potential of our detection was 700 mV. Calibration curve showed good linearity and the detection limit of TCs was 12.5, 20, 25, 10 and 25 ng/ml, respectively. Optimization of the pH of the mobile phase, the proportion of acetonitrile and the pH of the pretreatment were also performed. Recoveries of TCs from spiked samples were more than 88% and the relative standard deviations were less than 4.3%. This method was reliable, sensitive, economical and suited for routine monitoring of TC residues in ovine dairy milk.

Determination of salbutamol in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with a coulometric electrode array system.

A method is developed to determine salbutamol in human plasma and urine using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a coulometric electrode array system, based on the electrochemical behavior of salbutamol at graphite electrode. The mobile phase component A is 30 mM sodium dihydroxy phosphate-30 mM triethylamine and is adjusted to pH 6.0 with 20% phosphate acid. The mobile phase component B is methanol. The optimized mobile phase composition was A and B in the proportion of 90:10 (v/v). Paracetamol is selected as the external standard. The human plasma and urine samples are pretreated using solid-phase extraction cartridges (Sep-Pak Silica), and the eluting solution is monitored by the coulometric electrode array system. The electrode potentials are set at 300, 400, 550, and 650 mV, respectively. Calibration curves show good linearity, and the recovery of salbutamol proves to be constant and unaffected by the concentration of the drug. This method, developed using HPLC-electrochemical detection, is reproducible and sensitive enough for the determination of salbutamol in human plasma and urine.

Determination of clenbuterol in pig liver by high-performance liquid chromatography with a coulometric electrode array system

A method has been developed to determine clenbuterol in pig liver using HPLC with coulometric electrode array system, for this compound can be irreversibly oxidized at high potentials by ordinary methods. Investigation into the effect of the pH of mobile phase on the retention factor and peak height of clenbuterol was made. The electrochemical behavior of clenbuterol at graphite electrodes was taken into account. Optimization of different extract conditions was also performed. The samples were pretreated using liquid–liquid extraction based on diethyl ether and the organic layer was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in mobile phase and monitored by an ESA electrochemical detector. Four electrodes in series were used for quantitation and the potentials of electrodes were set at 450, 600, 650 and 680 mV, respectively. Calibration curve showed good linearity and the detection limit of clenbuterol was 1.2 ng/g. This method developed using HPLC–ECD is reproducible, and sensitive enough for the determination of clenbuterol in pig liver. It is easy to perform.

Rapid and complete extraction of phenols from olive oil and determination by means of a coulometric electrode array system.

Extraction methods to determine olive oil phenols are not exhaustive. A procedure to test their effectiveness, based on the treatment of the extracted oil with 2 N HCl followed by analysis of phenols in the aqueous phase, has been developed. It was concluded, using this test, that 15-40% of phenols remained unextracted when the liquid/liquid extraction method with 80% methanol was applied. Solid phase extraction (C(18) cartridge) succeeded in retaining most of the phenols in the cartridge, but the recovery yield from the sorbent material was low. However, a new extraction method, based on the use of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as an extraction solvent, achieved a complete extraction of phenols from oils. The proposed method requires a lower amount of oil, solvents, energy, and labor than the traditional ones. Because of the low concentration of phenols in the DMF extract, the highly sensitive electrochemical detector (EC) technique was studied. All of the phenols detected by the traditional UV detectors were also detected by EC using a coulometric array system. A rapid and complete analytical methodology of phenols in olive oil has been proposed based on coupling DMF extraction and EC detection.

Determination of amino acids and monoamine neurotransmitters in caudate nucleus of seizure-resistant and seizure-prone BALB/c mice.

Amino acid and monoamine concentrations were examined in tissue extracts of caudate nucleus of genetic substrains of BALB/c mice susceptible or resistant to audiogenic seizures. Amino acids [aspartate, glutamate, glycine, taurine, serine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)], monoamines, and related metabolites were separated by isocratic reverse-phase chromatography and detected by a coulometric electrode array system. In situ activity of tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase were determined by measuring the accumulation of L-DOPA and 5-hydroxytryptophan after administration of the decarboxylase inhibitor NSD-1015. Highly significant decreases in concentrations of both excitatory (glutamate and aspartate) and inhibitory amino acids (GABA and taurine) were observed in extracts of caudate nucleus of seizure-prone mice. Substantial decreases in concentrations of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid, were also noted. Decreased accumulation of L-DOPA after NSD-1015 administration provided evidence for decreased tyrosine hydroxylase activity and decreased DA synthesis in striatum of seizure-prone mice compared with seizure-resistant mice. Decreased concentrations of the DA metabolite 3-methoxytyramine (after NSD-1015 administration) suggested that DA release was also compromised in seizure-prone mice. No significant difference in 5-hydroxytryptophan accumulation in striatum of seizure-prone and seizure-resistant mice suggested that tryptophan hydroxylase activity and serotonin synthesis were not affected. The data suggest that seizure-prone BALB/c mice have a deficiency in intracellular content of both excitatory and inhibitory amino acids. The data also raise the issue of whether GABAergic interactions with the nigrostriatal DA system are important in the regulation of audiogenic seizure susceptibility.

Multichannel coulometric detection coupled with liquid chromatography for determination of phenolic esters in honey

A method for the determination of phenolic esters in different varieties of honey was developed. The substances were separated by RP-HPLC. A coulometric electrode-array system with sixteen electrodes arranged in series and set at increasing potentials (300–900 mV) was used for electrochemical detection of the compounds. Chromatographic peaks for methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, methyl vanillate, methyl syringate, trans-p-methyl coumarate and trans-methyl ferulate were identified. The content of the esters varied between 1.3 and 5044 μg per kg of honey with detection limits of 0.1–1.0 μg per kg of honey ( S/N = 3). The method described is a sensitive assay to differentiate between rape honey and other varieties.

Identification and determination of phenolic constituents in natural beverages and plant extracts by means of a coulometric electrode array system

A general method for the evaluation of phenolic compounds in fermented beverages, fruit juices and plant extracts was developed using gradient HPLC and coulometric detection. In a single injection (10 μl) it was possible to identify and determine 36 different molecules (flavonoids and simple and complex phenols), without sample extraction, purification or concentration, in several kinds of beers, red and white wines, lemon juice and soya, forsythia and tobacco extracts. The analytical performance of the method is reported. In addition to components already identified and described in the literature, a large number of other phenolic constituents were resolved. These other components may also be useful for the characterization of these beverages and extracts.

Measurement of kynurenic acid in mammalian brain extracts and cerebrospinal fluid by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric and coulometric electrode array detection

Kynurenic acid is a broad-spectrum excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptor antagonist which is present in the mammalian central nervous system. We describe a method for the measurement of kynurenic acid using isocratic reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorometric detection enhanced by Zn 2+ as a postcolumn reagent. The method requires no prior sample preparation procedures other than extraction with 0.1 m HClO 4. The reliability of the primary fluorometric method was verified by comparing measurements of tissue concentrations of kynurenic acid in human cerebral cortex and putamen using three different methods of separation with fluorometric detection, as well as four methods utilizing HPLC with coulometric electrode array system (CEAS) detection. All seven methods produced comparable results. The concentration of kynurenic acid in human cerebral cortex was 2.07 ± 0.61 pmol/mg protein, and in human putamen, 3.38 ± 0.81 pmol/mg protein. Kynurenic acid was also found to be present in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at a concentration of 5.09 ± 1.04 n m. The regional distribution of kynurenic acid in the rat brain was examined. Kynurenic acid concentrations were highest in brainstem (149.6 fmol/mg protein) and olfactory bulb (103.9 fmol/mg protein) and lowest in thalamus (26.0 fmol/mg protein). There were no significant postmortem changes in kynurenic acid concentrations in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum at intervals ranging from 0 to 24 h. Perfusion of the cerebral vasculature with normal saline prior to sacrifice did not significantly alter kynurenic acid content in rat hippocampus, cerebral cortex, or striatum. The analytical methods described are the most sensitive (10–30 fmol injection −1) and specific (utilizing both excitation and emissions properties and electrochemical reaction potentials, respectively) methods for determining kynurenic acid in brain tissue extracts and CSF. These methods should prove useful in examining whether kynurenic acid modulates EAA-mediated neurotransmission under physiologic conditions, as well as in determining the role of kynurenic acid in excitotoxic neuronal death.