REVERSED-PHASE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF HYPOGLYCIN-A (HG-A) IN CANNED ACKEE FRUIT SAMPLES

A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (LC) method involving precolum n derivatization with phenylisothiocyanate (PITC) was developed for de termining levels of hypoglycin A (HG-A) In canned ackee fruit samples. HG-A was extracted by homogenizing the drained fruit in 80% ethanol. By using a Waters Pico-Tag amino acid analysis 15-cm-long column (whic h is also used for analyzing protein hydrolysates and biological sampl es) and an LC system, the baseline separation of HG-A from other amino acids was completed in about 6 min. The total time for analysis and e quilibration was 16 min. HG-A levels in the edible portion of fruit in 18 cans varied from 18.27 to 87.50 mg HG-A/can. Recoveries of added s tandard HG-A averaged 101%. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of this method to determine HG-A in ackee fruit.