Quantitative determination of phototoxic furocoumarins in celeriac (Apium graveolens L. var. rapeceum) using supercritical fluid extraction and high performance liquid chromatography

Abstract

Linear phototoxic furocoumarins were determined in fresh celeriacs using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and reversed phase liquid chromatography. The SFE method was optimized by comparing extraction yields at different temperatures and pressures, resulting in the density of the carbon dioxide between 0.3 and 0.9 g/mL. The addition of a drying agent (sodium sulphate) to the sample was important in avoiding the plugging of the linear restrictor used. The optimum yields of furocoumarins were obtained when the density of the carbon dioxide was 0.58 g/mL. The repeatability was enhanced by careful selection of the collection solvent; however, between the solvents tested, only small differences in their efficiency to retain the analytes were observed. The determination of furocoumarins from fresh material was more efficient, and difficulties were observed in the isolation of the analytes from freeze‐dried or air‐dried ground celeriac. The amounts of furocoumarins varied within the batches of tubers, the sum of three phototoxic furocoumarins being 2.1–4.5 mg/kg (on a fresh weight basis). However, the yields obtained by SFE were in agreement with those from Soxhlet extraction. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Furanocoumarins in vegetables: influence of farming system and other factors on levels of toxicants

“…In some studies, crude extracts have been purified by liquid-liquid partition 25,27,34 or solid phase extraction (SPE). 24,25,34,38,39 High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV 23,24,26 -28,39 -42 or mass spectrometry (MS) 43 -45 detection and/or gas chromatography (GC) with MS 27,39,43,46 detection are the most common approaches applied for identification/quantification of individual furanocoumarins in plant extracts.…”

“…Numerous studies report a large increase in furanocoumarin levels in celery 24,34,37 and parsnip 18,25 as a response to mechanical injury and/or infestation by pests (fungi, insects) during storage. To our knowledge, only one study has been published up to now concerned with the influence of transport and storage conditions on the furanocoumarin content in organic and conventional Apiaceae vegetables.…”

Analysis of furanocoumarins in vegetables (Apiaceae) and citrus fruits (Rutaceae)

“…The highest levels of furanocoumarins in food crops4 are typically present in plants representing the Apiaceae family; maximum contents (expressed as a sum of the most abundant representatives) reported in the literature were celery 45 µg g −1 ,5 parsnip 145 µg g −1 ,6 and parsley 112 µg g −1 7. The results were quantified on a fresh‐weight basis.…”

“…water,5 methanol13, 14) or semi‐polar (ethyl acetate8, 15) solvents. Several extraction techniques were reported, utilising, for example, Soxhlet apparatus4, 16 and homogenisation with solvent using various types of grinders 5, 7, 8. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using supercritical carbon dioxide was also described as an isolation alternative in one paper 4.…”

A method for fast determination of psoralens in oral solutions of phytomedicines using liquid chromatography

“…1) are used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products because of their UV light absorbing properties [3]. Psoralens are also increasingly used in dermatology for the photochemotherapy of diseases such as vitiligo, psoriasis, mycosis fungoides, atopic eczema and alopecia areata among others [4,5].…”