Determination of a method for extraction of coenzyme Q10 in human plasma: optimization of the use of surfactants and other variables

Abstract

Objective: To establish a routine for the extraction of the total levelsof CoQ10 in human plasma through the Ultra High Performance LiquidChromatography (UHPLC). Methods: Two extraction protocolswere tested: a) methanol: hexane and b) 1-propanol. The followingparameters were analyzed: extraction temperature (19ºC and 4ºC),extraction tubes (glass and polypropylene), and surfactants (SDS,Triton X-100, Tween-20) at different concentrations, i.e., 1%,3%, 5% and 10%. Results: The results showed that the methodof extraction of CoQ10 in a sample of human plasma at 4ºC, usingsolvents methanol: hexane (85:15, v/v) in the presence of surfactantTween-20 at 3% and polypropylene tubes showed better efficiencyand reproducibility when compared to the method with 1-propanol.Conclusion: By the analyses performed, it was possible to observethat the addition of the surfactant Tween-20 promoted an increasein the recovery of CoQ10 by the methanol:hexane extraction method.This method showed good reproducibility, with a low coefficient ofvariation and high sensitivity, since CoQ10 was detected in samplesof plasma of a control individual using a UV-type detector. The useof UHPLC equipment allowed a total analysis with total run time of3.5 minutes, enabling the rapid achievement of results, consideredmandatory for laboratory routines.

Keywords

• Coenzymes
• Surfactants
• Chromatography
• liquid