title: High-performance liquid chromatography determination of pipecolic acid after precolumn ninhydrin derivatization using domestic microwave.
abstract: A novel procedure to specifically quantify low amounts of pipecolic acid and structurally related compounds in several types of biological materials has been characterized. From crude extracts of various types of biological material, the first step was to clear all low-molecular-weight compounds containing primary amino groups by a treatment of nitrous acid. Using a microwave-assisted reaction, the remaining substances containing secondary amino groups were then derivatized with ninhydrin and made soluble in glacial acetic acid. The derivatives produced were resolved by reverse-phase HPLC and detected by spectrophotometry at 570nm. This procedure allowed more rapid determination of pipecolic acid since microwave heating shortened the time needed for derivatization compared with heating at 95 degrees C in a water bath. The complete analysis of the chromogens for pipecolic acid and related substances was achieved in 20min. Under such conditions, the detection threshold for pipecolic acid was about 20pmol. The suitability of the technique was assessed in various biological matrices known to contain significant amounts of this amino acid. The data obtained are in accordance with those available in the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first method using the ninhydrin reaction in a precolumn, microwave-assisted derivatization procedure for detection and determination of heterocyclic alpha-amino acids.
authors.affiliation: Equipe Osmoadaptation et Métabolismes de Stress, UMR-CNRS 6026, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France. michael.moulin@univ-rennes1.fr
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moulin
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deleu
authors.forename: François Robert
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Larher
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouchereau
mesh_terms: D029688:Brassica napus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D001951:Brevibacterium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D008872:Microwaves; D009555:Ninhydrin / Q000737:chemistry*; D009608:Nitrous Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D010875:Pipecolic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010875:Pipecolic Acids; D009555:Ninhydrin; D009608:Nitrous Acid