Quality control of commercial quillaja (Quillaja saponaria Molina) extracts by reverse phase HPLC

Journal of the Science of Food and AgricultureVolume 80, Issue 14 p. 2063-2068 Paper Quality control of commercial quillaja (Quillaja saponaria Molina) extracts by reverse phase HPLC Ricardo San Martín, Corresponding Author Ricardo San Martín Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Catholic University, Avenue Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago, ChileDepartment of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Catholic University, Avenue Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago, ChileSearch for more papers by this authorReinaldo Briones, Reinaldo Briones Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Catholic University, Avenue Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago, ChileSearch for more papers by this author Ricardo San Martín, Corresponding Author Ricardo San Martín Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Catholic University, Avenue Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago, ChileDepartment of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Catholic University, Avenue Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago, ChileSearch for more papers by this authorReinaldo Briones, Reinaldo Briones Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Catholic University, Avenue Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago, ChileSearch for more papers by this author First published: 27 September 2000 https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0010(200011)80:14<2063::AID-JSFA750>3.0.CO;2-2Citations: 46Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Saponin-rich extracts of the Chilean indigenous tree Quillaja saponaria Molina are widely used as natural foaming agents in foods and beverages, food emulsifiers, photographic emulsions, vaccine adjuvants, etc. However, with the exception of the vaccine industry, saponin concentration is not adequately quantified. Normally, the quality and price of the extracts are determined using simple foam tests. This may not be adequate, since similar foam levels can be obtained by blending quillaja extracts with other low-cost saponin sources (eg Yucca shidigera extracts). Also, many products are diluted with high amounts of carriers, reducing significantly their saponin concentration. To overcome these problems and standardise the quality of commercial extracts, the use of reverse phase HPLC techniques is explored. It is shown that RP-HPLC yields consistent and repetitive results and can be easily implemented to control the quality of quillaja extracts. Commercial non-refined extracts contain 190–200 g saponins kg−1 solids, while semi-refined extracts contain 750–800 g saponins kg−1 solids. Also, extracts derived from quillaja bark (traditional raw material) and whole quillaja wood (novel ecological production method) have similar saponin composition and concentration. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry Citing Literature Volume80, Issue14November 2000Pages 2063-2068 RelatedInformation