Rapid analysis of 6-methoxymellein in carrots by boiling water extraction,solid phase extraction and HPLC

By modification and combination of existing methods we have developed a rap id method for quantification of 6-methoxymellein in carrot roots by means o f boiling water and solid phase extraction, followed by high performance li quid chromatography (HPLC). The performance of the method was found to be a cceptable, when tested by three consecutive boiling water extractions from carrot samples with different levels of 6-methoxymellein. The recovery was 96-99% after one extraction. With this method it was possible for one perso n to extract 20 samples during a working day and further quantify the amoun t of 6-methoxymellein by automatic HPLC the following night. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.