Abstract:

A solid phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatographic (SPE-HPLC) method was developed for the determination of betaine in the fruits of Lycium barbarum L.. The cleanup of sample extracts was achieved on Waters Oasis MCX cartridge. A mixture of acetonitrile and water was used as the mobile phase for the chromatographic separation on Atlantis HILIC column in the gradient elution mode. The detection wavelength was set at 195 nm. The method exhibited a limit of detection of 0.0066 mg/mL and a linear range of 0.2－5.0 mg/mL. Average recoveries of three replicates for betaine in a real sample spiked at the levels of 0.05, 0.1 mg/mL and 0.2 mg/mL ranged between 88.3% and 104%. A simple, rapid and accurate determination of betaine in the fruits of Lycium barbarum L. was successfully achieved using the method.

Key words: solid phase extraction, high-performance liquid chromatography, Lycium barbarum L., betaine