IMPROVED METHOD FOR THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHIC RESOLUTION AND PHOTODENSITOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF THE MAJOR CLASSES OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS

Thin-layer chromatography and photodensitometry were used to resolve a nd quantitate trace levels of the major phospholipid classes. A solven t system of chloroform/methanol/ethyl acetate/40% methylamine (20/20/2 0/10; v/v) resolved the phospholipids. After spraying with 10% CUSO4 i n 10% H3PO4 and charring, photodenstiometric assesments were reliably achieved with as little as 100ng of phospholipid. To illustrate the ea se and reliability of the methodology, analyses of various biological materials are presented.