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Rapid quantification of proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins) with a continuous flow analyzer.
J K Nitao1, B A Birr, M G Nair
1Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|May 23, 2001
Summary
An automated colorimetric method using sulfuric acid was developed to quantify proanthocyanidins in food and plant samples. This new technique offers improved speed and repeatability over traditional methods for condensed tannin analysis.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins) require frequent quantification in diverse studies.
- Existing quantification methods can be time-consuming and less repeatable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an automated, rapid, and repeatable colorimetric method for proanthocyanidin quantification.
- To optimize assay conditions for various plant extracts using a continuous flow analyzer.
Main Methods:
- Developed an automated colorimetric assay using sulfuric acid for proanthocyanidin quantification.
- Optimized extraction and assay conditions using methanol extracts from birch, maple, and aspen leaves.
- Validated the automated method against conventional BuOH-HCl and Folin-Denis assays.
Main Results:
- The automated sulfuric acid assay demonstrated high correlation with the BuOH-HCl method.
- Extraction with 50% methanol was effective for birch and maple, comparable to 70% acetone.
- The new technique significantly enhanced assay processing rate and repeatability.
Conclusions:
- An automated sulfuric acid colorimetric assay provides an efficient and reliable method for proanthocyanidin quantification.
- This method is suitable for large-scale sample analysis in food, plant, and environmental research.
- Optimized extraction and assay conditions ensure accurate results and prevent sample degradation.