CHEMICAL STUDIES OF PHYTOESTROGENS AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS IN DIETARY-SUPPLEMENTS - FLAX AND CHAPARRAL

High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and mass spectrometric (MS) procedures were developed to determine lignans in flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) and chaparral (Larrea tridentata). Flaxseed contains h igh levels of phytoestrogens. Chaparral has been associated with acute nonviral toxic hepatitis and contains lignans that are structurally s imilar to known estrogenic compounds. Both flaxseed and chaparral prod ucts have been marketed as dietary supplements. A mild enzyme hydrolys is procedure to prevent the formation of artifacts in the isolation st ep was used in the determination of secolsolariciresinol in flaxseed p roducts. HPLC with ultraviolet spectral (UV) or MS detection was used as the determinative steps. HPLC procedures with UV detection and mass spectrometry were developed to characterize the phenolic components, including lignans and flavonoids, of chaparral and to direct fractiona tion studies for the bioassays.