Determination of ephedrine alkaloids and synephrine in dietary supplements by column-switching cation exchange high-performance liquid chromatography with scanning-wavelength ultraviolet and fluorescence detection

J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Sep 10;51(19):5630-8. doi: 10.1021/jf0302052.

Abstract

An HPLC method with on-line cleanup coupled to the separation column is described for determination of (-)-norephedrine, (+)-norpseudoephedrine, (-)-ephedrine, (+)-pseudoephedrine, (-)-N-methylephedrine, (+)-N-methylpseudoephedrine, and (+/-)-synephrine in finished dietary supplement products. Test portions were extracted in acidified aqueous acetone. A filtered aliquot was cleaned up on a strong cation exchange (SCX) precolumn that later was automatically coupled to the SCX analytical column. Measurement was by full-scan UV spectra for confirmation of identity by spectral matching and real-time integration of three wavelength signals for multiple quantitation. (+/-)-Synephrine was also quantitated by native fluorescence. Recovery averaged 95-100%. Determination of the major ingredients (-)-ephedrine, (+)-pseudoephedrine, and (+/-)-synephrine compared favorably to findings by an independent LC-MS analysis for a set of 25 samples. The results of a survey were reported for total ephedrine alkaloid and synephrine content and were compared to content declaration, for approximately 48 finished products.

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / analysis*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Dietary Supplements / analysis*
  • Ephedrine / analysis*
  • Fluorescence
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Synephrine / analysis*

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Ephedrine
  • Synephrine