HPLC Analysis of Taurine in Human Plasma Sample Using the Dabs-Ci Reagent with Sensitivity at Picomole Level

Abstract

A high-performance liquid chromaiographic method for the evaluation of taurine in human plasma samples is presented. Two different extraction procedures have been employed: perchloric acid extraction and filtration using the CF-50 Amicon membrane, obtaining comparable results. After extraction the samples were derivatized with the 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-4′-sulfonyl chloride (DABS-CI) reagent and the DABS-derivatives. included DABS-taurine, analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC obtaining a sensitivity at picomole level. However, the plasma filtration using the CF-50 Amicon membranes is a quicker procedure (10 min) also allowing the simultaneous evaluation of acid-labile amino acids such as asparagine. glutamine and tryptophan and a higher recovery of taurine (>96%). The taurine levels in human plasma samples of ten normal adults (mean age, 20 years) using the perchloric extraction and the plasma filtration were 38 ± 5 and 42 ± 4 nmol/ml of plasma respectively.