HPLC Determination of Product Adulteration and Authenticity

Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed a gradient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method that uses a spectro-electro array platform to generate information-rich metabolic profiles that can be interrogated using chemometric modeling software.

Application Note (AN) 1064: Product Authentication and Adulteration Determination Using a Novel Spectro-Electro Array Platform demonstrates that this approach can be used to study product authenticity (differentiating wine varietals, orange juice varietals and growing region, and distinguishing tea blends) and adulteration (orange juice blending and inclusion of peel or pulp wash).

Plants contain a diverse range of secondary metabolites, including polyphenols, alkaloids, and terpenoids. These compounds play a crucial role in the organism; for example, polyphenols act as pigments and can protect against disease.

Secondary metabolites are also thought to be responsible for the purported health benefits associated with the consumption of botanicals, supplements, some foods, and beverages. In addition, polyphenols are associated with the quality and sensory characteristics of tea, wine, and beer.

Using an electrochemical detector to generate sensitive three-dimensional electrochemical array data, the method described in AN 1064 can provide a wealth of information useful in the product development, production, and testing of food, beverages, and products such as olive oils, botanicals/supplements, fuels/oils, and drugs.