Method development and validation of phloroglucinol and dieckol in Ecklonia cava using HPLC-DAD

The purpose of this study was to simultaneously analyze and validate phlorotannins, a group of functional compounds in Ecklonia cava, using HPLC-DAD. E. cava was profiled using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, and a total of six phlorotannin components were identified. Among these six compounds, phloroglucinol and dieckol were selected as marker components of E. cava, and a simultaneous analysis method using HPLC-DAD for phloroglucinol and dieckol was developed. Specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), and matrix effect (ME) were verified using HPLC-DAD. These results complied with validation guidelines. The applicability of this simultaneous analysis method was confirmed by quantifying the contents of phloroglucinol and dieckol in E. cava samples (n = 10) purchased in Korea. This method can be used for quality control, such as standardization or determination of compounds in health functional foods containing E. cava extract.