Comparison of Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry and Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography in the Quantification of Amygdalin from Apple Seeds
Disciplines
Analytical Chemistry | Organic Chemistry
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Amygdalin had been used in anti-cancer treatments in the past but was discontinued due to the cyanide group present in the molecule. This dissociates in vivo from beta-glucosidases, cleaving off the two glucose molecules, which creates mandelonitrile, quickly decomposing into benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. Amygdalin is present in many popular fruit seeds such as apples, grapes, and apricots, but the quantity differs between species. Therefore, analyzing the amount of amygdalin presents itself as a safety standard, and selecting the correct analytical technique becomes significant for quantification of cyanide consumption. The purpose of this experiment is to compare the analytical quantification of amygdalin between gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Apple seeds were dried, then extracted via Soxhlet distillation. The diluted ethanolic solution was quantified using both instruments. The unknown was compared to an amygdalin standard to discover which instruments’ results yielded higher precision, selectivity, sensitivity, and robustness.
Use of AI Disclaimer
no
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM – Chemistry and Biochemistry
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Christopher Sumner
Comparison of Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry and Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography in the Quantification of Amygdalin from Apple Seeds
Amygdalin had been used in anti-cancer treatments in the past but was discontinued due to the cyanide group present in the molecule. This dissociates in vivo from beta-glucosidases, cleaving off the two glucose molecules, which creates mandelonitrile, quickly decomposing into benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. Amygdalin is present in many popular fruit seeds such as apples, grapes, and apricots, but the quantity differs between species. Therefore, analyzing the amount of amygdalin presents itself as a safety standard, and selecting the correct analytical technique becomes significant for quantification of cyanide consumption. The purpose of this experiment is to compare the analytical quantification of amygdalin between gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Apple seeds were dried, then extracted via Soxhlet distillation. The diluted ethanolic solution was quantified using both instruments. The unknown was compared to an amygdalin standard to discover which instruments’ results yielded higher precision, selectivity, sensitivity, and robustness.