DETERMINATION OF BIOGENIC-AMINES IN LEAFY VEGETABLES BY AMINO-ACID ANALYZER

An automated ion-exchange chromatographic method is described for dete rmination of biogenic amines in leafy vegetables using a cation-exchan ge resin column in potassium form and a three-buffer system. The follo wing amines were separated and quantified for Chinese cabbage, endive, iceberg lettuce and radiocchio: putrescine, histamine, cadaverine, sp ermidine, agmatine, spermine, tyramine. Amines from vegetable samples were extracted with 10% trichloroacetic acid. The total concentration of these amines ranged from 14 to 20 mug/g fresh weight. Spermidine wa s the major polyamine detected, present at concentrations of 7-15 mug/ g fresh weight.