Evaluation of Commercial Chlorophyllin Copper Complex Preparations by Liquid Chromatography with Photodiode Array Detection

Abstract A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (LC) system with photodiode array detection was used to analyze chlorophyllin copper complex (CCC). Analysis revealed significant differences in the porphyrin compositions of CCC samples from 5 industrial sources. Copper isochlorin e4 was identified as a major component in most commercial materials. Copper complexes of chlorin e6 and pheophorbide a and unidentified porphyrins with either chlorin- or non-chlorin-type spectra were found in some samples. The variability of porphyrin compositions in commercial preparations may affect the medicinal efficacy of CCC; therefore, analysis of porphyrin composition is important for CCC quality control.