High-performance liquid chromatography of gentian violet, its demethylated metabolites, leucogentian violet and methylene blue with electrochemical detection.

High-performance liquid chromatographic conditions are reported for the electrochemical detection (ED) of Gentian Violet, its demethylated metabolites, Leucogentian Violet and Methylene Blue. Gentian Violet, its demethylated metabolites and Leucogentian Violet were separated within 14 min on a cyano column eluted isocratically with methanol-buffer (60:40) as the mobile phase. ED responses for Gentian Violet, Leucogentian Violet and Methylene Blue were linear over the ranges 0.54-6.75, 0.50-25.2, and 5.7-285 ng, respectively. Under these conditions, the compounds were eluted in the following order: Leucogentian Violet, N"-2-tetra-methylparaosaniline chloride, N'-1-tetramethylpararosaniline chloride, pentamethylpararosaniline chloride and Gentian Violet. Methylene Blue and Gentian Violet had essentially the same retention time under these parameters. The detection limit for Gentian Violet, its demethylated metabolites and Leucogentian Violet was determined to be 0.1 pmol. A detection limit of 3 pmol was established for Methylene Blue. Detector response, elution, separation, linearity and sensitivity of detection are discussed.