Assessment of phenolic compounds in biological samples

A short review of extraction, purification and cleanup procedures for the analysis of phenolic compounds (anthocyanins, flavonoids, catechins, phenolic acids, etc.) in animal and human biological fluids and organs is presented. The rising interest about the antioxidant capacity of these widespread constituents of fruit and vegetables enables these procedures an invaluable tool prior of the separation and identification of these compounds and their metabolites occurring in the organism. Finally, the usual chromatographic and spectrophotometric analytical techniques for their separation and identification are briefly summarized.