Simultaneous separation and sensitive detection of naringin and naringenin in nanoparticles by chromatographic method indicating stability and photodegradation kinetics

A simple, sensitive, precise and linear method by liquid chromatography was established for simultaneous determination and quantification of naringin and naringenin in polymeric nanoparticles. The method results in excellent separation in <11 min and with a peak purity of both flavonoids. The analyses were performed using a C-18 column (4.6 x 150 mm, 5 mu m), at a 1 mL/min flow rate. The mobile phase consisted of a gradient of acetonitrile-water (pH 4.0; v/v) at a temperature of 25 degrees C. The nanoparticles were prepared according to the method of interfacial deposition of a pre-formed polymer. The method were validated in compliance with guidelines, and was found to be linear in the 1-40 mu g/mL concentration range for both naringin and naringenin (r > 0.99). Repeatability was determined at three concentration levels, obtaining an RSD (%) <0.9%, and the accuracy of the method was >98%. The photodegradation kinetics was determined for naringin; the coefficient that best represents degradation was of first order and naringenin presented a zero-order kinetics. To our knowledge, a rapid and sensitive method for naringin and naringenin in polymeric nanoparticles has not been published elsewhere and this method is applicable to simultaneous evaluation of flavonoids. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.