Quality Analysis of Chitosan and Nothapodytes foietida by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis procedures for quantifying camptothecin and glucosamine/N-acetyl glucosamine were developed. The former was based on in-capillary micro-extraction technique and can be used in monitoring the purification process of the anti-cancer agent, camptothecin, from a Taiwan medicinal tree, Nothapodytes nimmoniana. The latter was based on the complex reaction between borate ion and the aminosugars; the method is valuable for either determining deacetylation degree of chitinous material or analyzing the illegal food additive, borax.
As the result shown, the DMSO-extract of Nothapodytes nimmoniana can be directly injected, extracted and analyzed with a commercialized capillary electrophoresis system. The borate complex reaction improved the separation and detection by altering the electrophoresis mobility and the optical properties of the aminosugars. Both separation procedures were completed in less than 20 minutes