Analysis of phenolic acids in plant materials using HPLC with amperometric detection at a platinum tubular electrode

Abstract

Abstract The suitability of a simple amperometric platinum tubular detector for HPLC analysis of selected phenolic acids in yacon ( Smallanthus sonchifolius, Asteraceae) is reported. The detector offers good overall limits of detection for the phenolic acids of interest. Three different types of extracts from yacon leaves were analyzed and compared with respect to their content of phenolic acids. Caffeic acid was found in all yacon extracts, whereas the content of chlorogenic acid depends more on the extraction procedure used. It has been demonstrated that no complicated and sophisticated equipment is needed and HPLC with amperometric detection seems to be a very useful technique for analysis of plant extracts containing phenolic acids.