Analysis of Sesamin, Asarinin, and Sesamolin by HPLC with Photodiode and Fluorescent Detection and by GC/MS: Application to Sesame Oil and Serum Samples
New sensitive and specific analytical methods are needed
for the analysis of sesamin, asarinin, and sesamolin in sesame seed oils, sesame dietary
supplements, as well as in serum samples from clinical studies involving sesamin, asarinin, and
sesamolin. The objective of this study was to develop a high performance liquid chromatographic
(HPLC) method with photodiode array and fluorescent detectors and a gas chromatography mass-
spectrometry (GC/MS) method for the analysis of sesamin, asarinin (episesamin), and sesamolin in
sesame oil and in serum samples. Sesame oil samples were extracted with methanol whereas the
serum samples were extracted with ethyl acetate or n-hexane. The individual lignans were analyzed
by HPLC using reversed phase C18 columns. Analytical recoveries of sesamin, asarinin, and
sesamolin from sesame oil were 92-94 % with two extractions. Recoveries from serum ranged from 87
to 97 %. The limit of quantitation with the fluorometric detector was 0.1 ng compared to 0.1 mu g
with the PDA detector. The concentrations of sesamin, asarinin, and sesamolin in Orchids and
Sigma sesame oil were 0.4, 0, and 0.15 % and 0.19, 0.09, and 0 %, respectively. The identities of
the individual lignans obtained by HPLC were confirmed by GC/MS and the concentrations of
sesamin, asarinin, and sesamolin obtained with the fluorometric detector correlated with those
obtained by GC/MS (r (2) = 0.94, P < 0.001). The HPLC and GC/MS methods permit simple and
efficient procedures for the analysis of sesamin, asarinin, and sesamolin in sesame oil samples
as well as in serum samples.
Sesamin, asarinin, and sesamolin analysis; Fluorescent spectra characterization; High-performance liquid-chromatography; GC/MS analysis; Sesame oil and serum samples