Analysis of enzymatically glucosylated flavonoids by capillary electrophoresis.

HPCE with UV detection was applied to the analyses of enzymatically glucosylated flavonoids, which are used as natural food additives in Japan. Four items, which have flavonol or flavanone as aglycone, were analyzed. Each of these items is a mixture of glycosides with various lengths of maltooligosaccharide chain. On capillary zone electrophoresis with an untreated fused-silica capillary at alkaline pH, glycosides with longer sugar chains migrated more rapidly. Flavonol glycosides with 1-13 glucose units were distinguished with the borate buffer (pH 10.0). Flavanone glycosides needed higher pH values for good separation than flavonol glycosides.