Development of methods for identification and quantification of natural products in plant extracts, emphasizing SBSE techniques (SBSE/LC-Fluorescence and SBSE/UHPLC-MS) for the investigation of further passion fruit (maracujá) harmane alkaloids

Abstract

This project will study the chemical composition (identification of compounds and quantification) of the harman alkaloids from the fruits (pulps and seeds) of "sour passion fruit" (Passiflora edulis) and of "sweet passion fruit" (P. alata), due to their wide utilization in natura or as industrial raw material (foods, phytocosmetics) in Brazil. For the selective extraction and preconcentration of alkaloids, it will be focused SBSE (stir bar sorption extraction), by using a new polar sorptive phase of modified silicon/polyehtyleneglycol (EG-SiliconeTM, Gerstel). This phase potentially leads to the investigation of more polar alkaloids than SBSE using PDMS as sorptive phase. The identification of the alkaloids will combine chromatographic data, obtained by using analytical standards and specific reagents for the detection of alkaloids, with on-line data of the extracts, obtained by using HPLC-UV/DAD, HPLC-Flu/DAD (retention time, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra) and by UHPLC-MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry). The validation of the quantitative analysis steps will follow the criteria of ICH (International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use).The main analytical techniques utilized in this project are versatile and are into the analytical criteria required for their utilization also in the industry and will achieve the goals of the "Green Chemistry", due to the smaller generation of chemical wastes in comparison with traditional procedures of Phytochemical Analysis. (AU)