Journal of Food Safety and Quality

Objective To establish a rapid analysis method based on solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detection (SPE-HPLC-ELSD) for determining the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in edible enzymes from medicinal and edible homologous sources. Methods Fermented panacis quinquefolii radix liquid was selected as a representative sample. After centrifugation (8000 r/min, 10 min) and ultrasonic extraction (10 min, 25 ℃), 3 kinds of different sample pretreatment methods—non-purification, dispersive solid phase extraction purification, and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB)-based solid phase extraction purification were compared and optimized. An optimized HPLC-ELSD instrumental method was developed to achieve accurate content determination. The method was then applied to determine the GABA content in other medicinal and edible homologous enzyme products. Results GABA was determined by optimized SPE-HPLC-ELSD. GABA showed a good linear relationship (r=0.999) in the mass concentration range of 50–2000 μg/mL. The recovery rate ranged from 85.93% to 96.30%, with a repeatability relative standard deviation of 0.87% (n=6). Conclusion This method is efficient and accurate, suitable for the quantitative analysis of GABA in various medicinal and edible homologous enzymes. It also provides a new approach and reference for GABA determination in complex matrices and for detecting small molecules with strong polarity and low ultraviolet absorption.

medicinal and edible homologous sources; γ-aminobutyric acid; edible enzymes; solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detection; solid phase extraction