Purification column technique

The literature describes chromatographic techniques related to the characterization, isolation and purification of iridoids. Most reports show the open column technique as the principal technique used to isolate this class. Also, there have been few studies on counterflow and capillary electrophoresis chromatographies. In general, there has been little scientific investment in the area of obtaining iridoids of the Apoc3maceae family, despite the great pharmacological importance of this class of constituents. 

Chromatography. A number of HPLC and TLC methods have been developed for separation and isolation of the brevetoxins. HPLC methods use both C18 reversed-phase and normal-phase silica gel columns (8, 14, 15). Gradient or iso-cratic elutions are employed and detection usually relies upon ultraviolet (UV) absorption in the 208-215-nm range. Both brevetoxin backbone structures possess a UV absorption maximum at 208 nm, corresponding to the enal moeity (16,17). In addition, the PbTx-1 backbone has an absorption shoulder at 215 nm corresponding to the 7-lactone structure. While UV detection is generally sufficient for isolation and purification, it is not sensitive (>1 ppm) enough to detect trace levels of toxins or metabolites. Excellent separations are achieved by silica gel TLC (14, 15, 18-20). Sensitivity (>1 ppm) remains a problem, but flexibility and ease of use continue to make TLC a popular technique. 

Purified extracts contain higher contents of tea catechins obtained by further purification processes, for example solvent extraction or column chromatography techniques (Takeo, 2001). New techniques, such as membrane extraction and separation, may be beneficial in producing such extracts (Nwuha, 2000, Wang et al, 1995). 

The use of ethyl acetate was suggested by Oszmianski and Lee (1990) to wash out phenolics other than anthocyanins. Finally, a relatively pure anthocyanin extract can be removed from the colnmn with acidified methanol (0.1% HCl). Anthocyanin extracts can be enriched in this way by use of solid phase purification, which is especially helpful for diluted samples such as biological samples. Two factors in the nse of these purification techniques are the stability of anthocyanins to the conditions nsed and the ease of anthocyanin recovery from the column. ... 

Specifically for triazines in water, multi-residue methods incorporating SPE and LC/MS/MS will soon be available that are capable of measuring numerous parent compounds and all their relevant degradates (including the hydroxytriazines) in one analysis. Continued increases in liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/API-MS/MS) sensitivity will lead to methods requiring no aqueous sample preparation at all, and portions of water samples will be injected directly into the LC column. The use of SPE and GC or LC coupled with MS and MS/MS systems will also be applied routinely to the analysis of more complex sample matrices such as soil and crop and animal tissues. However, the analyte(s) must first be removed from the sample matrix, and additional research is needed to develop more efficient extraction procedures. Increased selectivity during extraction also simplifies the sample purification requirements prior to injection. Certainly, miniaturization of all aspects of the analysis (sample extraction, purification, and instrumentation) will continue, and some of this may involve SEE, subcritical and microwave extraction, sonication, others or even combinations of these techniques for the initial isolation of the analyte(s) from the bulk of the sample matrix. 

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