IMPROVED HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MAJOR CAPSAICINOIDS IN CAPSICUM OLEORESINS

The major capsaicinoids responsible for pungency in capsicum oleoresins were separated and quantified in an oleoresin model system and in a pharmaceutical model system using HPLC. An analogue of capsaicin, dimethoxybenzylmethyloctamide (DMBMO), was synthesized for use as an internal standard and used for quantification of capsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, and dihydrocapsaicin. This novel internal standard has a retention time between that of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin and is nonpungent. A precollaborative test was used to check the robustness of the procedure for variations in instrumentation and sample preparation. Changes in sample media were not shown to affect the results.