The nutraceutical industry uses Ginkgo biloba extracts for the treatment of asthma and bronchitis as well as cerebrovascular and peripheral circulatory disorders. Quality control methods must determine the amount of flavonoids in Gingko and its products. These supplements often contain components that must be detected by HPLC but lack a chromophore to produce a signal with an ultraviolet (UV) detector. The Agilent Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (ELSD) is an excellent alternative to UV because it detects all solutes that are less volatile than the mobile phase. The figure compares chromatograms of standards of Gingko flavonoids, comparing the signals on ELSD with two channels of UV. The four flavonoids have very low response at a wavelength of 210 nm and no response at 254 nm. The increased sensitivity of the ELSD of this analysis is clearly demonstrated. View entire application note.
View entire application note.