New colorimetric method for the quantitative estimation of phospholipids without acid digestion

Area of Science:

• Lipid biochemistry
• Analytical chemistry

Background:

• Phospholipids are crucial cellular components.
• Accurate quantification of phospholipids is essential for biological research.
• Existing methods often involve harsh acid digestion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel colorimetric method for phospholipid quantification.
• To provide an alternative to acid digestion-based lipid analysis.

Main Methods:

• Phospholipids were separated using thin-layer chromatography.
• Eluted phospholipids were reacted with a modified Vaskovsky chromogenic reagent.
• Absorbance of the resulting colored complex was measured at 710 nm.

Main Results:

• The method successfully quantifies phospholipids without acid digestion.
• The colorimetric reaction produced a measurable colored complex.
• Absorbance correlated linearly with phospholipid phosphorus concentration (1-10 µg) following Beer's Law.

Conclusions:

• This method offers a simpler and potentially safer alternative for phospholipid analysis.
• The developed technique is suitable for quantitative determination of phospholipid phosphorus.