Chromatographic Determination of Cyanoglycosides Prunasin and Amygdalin in Plant Extracts Using a Porous Graphitic Carbon Column

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 50; no. 24; pp. 6960 - 6963
• Main Authors: Berenguer-Navarro, V, Giner-Galván, R. M, Grané-Teruel, N, Arrazola-Paternina, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 20.11.2002
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Amygdalin - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Chromatography - methods; Cyanides - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Generalities. Production, biomass, yield. Quality; Graphite; Nitriles - analysis; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Roots - chemistry; Prunus - chemistry; Seeds - chemistry; Sensitivity and Specificity; Genetic selection; Prunus dulcis; Plant juvenile growth stage; Rosaceae; HPLC chromatography; Identification; Cyanogenic glucoside; Chromatography; Tissue extract; almond tree tissues; Efficiency; Dicotyledones; Activated carbon; Angiospermae; Genetic improvement; Pyrrolidone(vinyl) copolymer; Spermatophyta; Chemical composition; Fruit tree; Measurement method; Amygdalin; prunasin
• DOI: 10.1021/jf0256081
• ISSN: 0021-8561

The determination of cyanogenic compounds in plants is often performed by HPLC. However, in this analysis, interferences due to compounds in the matrix, such as tannins and other pigments, are encountered, especially in roots and leaves. A new method is proposed for determining the cyanogenic glycosides amygdalin (d-mandelonitrile β-d-gentiobioside) and prunasin (d-mandelonitrile β-d-glucoside) in almond tree tissues, using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) or active carbon as scavengers for extracting cyanogenic compounds from roots or leaves, respectively. A new chromatographic approach for conducting the analysis is also discussed herein. The advantages of a Hypercarb column for the analysis of prunasin in roots are shown. The correlation coefficient with a reference method is high (>0.99), and statistical tests prove that the two methods are equivalent. In addition, the results provide evidence that prunasin is the only cyanoglycoside present in almond tree roots. Keywords: Chromatography; amygdalin; prunasin; almond tree tissues