[Separation of bile acids by capillary zone electrophoresis].
OBJECTIVE
To develop a method for separating the major bile acids by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE).


METHODS
The effect of different separations, such as the compose, pH and the concentration of buffer, on the electro-osmotic flow (EOF), the migration time and resolution of 8 bile acids in this system were studied. The general trends in migration time could be correlated to the pH and concentration of the buffer. The effect of organic reagent on EOF and migration time were also investigated. By addition of methanol, the EOF went smaller than before, and better resolution was achieved. The experimental results showed that optimum separation was achieved under the following condition: buffer composition of 126 mmol.L-1 disodium tetraborate, 43 mmol.L-1 disodium hydrogenphosphate, 18% methanol; temperature 30 degrees C; voltage 30 kV; total length of capillary 570 mm and 500 mm from injection end; ultraviolet detection at 200 nm; pressure injection 5 kPa for 8 s.


RESULTS
Eight kinds of bile acid had been separated by CZE with only one injection. The method was used to analyse the contents of bile acids from different kinds of bear biles, the recovery was 89%-107%.


CONCLUSIONS
This method is simple and rapid, and can be used to determine the content of bile acids in bear biles. The calibration curve showed good linearity for eight bile acids in the concentration range of 4-60 mg.mL-1 (gamma > 0.9954). The total time for seperation and determination was within 25 min.
Zhu
Li-bin
LB
Toxicant Detection Center, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China. libinzhu@sohu.com
Hong
Xiao-kun
XK
D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry*; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000737:chemistry*; D001503:Ursidae
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D008419:Materia Medica