Analysis of Chlorogenic acid in Vitamin C medicine

Importance of the topic

Accurate determination of chlorogenic acid in vitamin C tablets is essential for quality control and ensuring health benefits. Chlorogenic acid, a polyphenol with antioxidant properties, contributes to the therapeutic efficacy and nutritional value of dietary supplements. Reliable analytical methods support regulatory compliance and product consistency.

Objectives and study overview

This study aims to establish a straightforward, precise reversed‐phase liquid chromatography method with UV detection for quantifying chlorogenic acid in vitamin C formulations. The approach is designed for routine application in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical quality‐control laboratories.

Methodology and instrumentation

• Column: Shim-pack Scepter C18-120 (250 mm × 4.6 mm I.D., 5 μm)
• Mobile phase: Isocratic elution with 1% acetic acid in water (A) and acetonitrile (B) at a 94:6 ratio
• Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min
• Column temperature: 30 °C
• Injection volume: 10 μL
• Detection wavelength: UV at 327 nm

Sample preparation involves removing tablet coating, grinding 1 g of tablets, sonicating with methanol (300 W, 40 kHz) for 45 min, and diluting to 100 mL before filtration.

Main results and discussion

The method produced a well‐resolved peak for chlorogenic acid with excellent linearity at a standard concentration of 30 μg/mL. Precision and sensitivity were confirmed through repeated injections. Analysis of tablet extracts demonstrated no interference from excipients, validating the method’s specificity and accuracy for routine testing.

Benefits and practical applications

• Rapid and reproducible quantification of chlorogenic acid in complex tablet matrices
• Simple sample preparation protocol suitable for high‐throughput QC work
• High analytical specificity from isocratic separation and UV detection
• Method aligns with regulatory requirements for dietary supplement analysis

Future trends and potential applications

Developments may include coupling with mass spectrometry for enhanced selectivity, adoption of shorter or core‐shell columns for faster analysis, and extension of the method to other polyphenolic compounds in functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Conclusion

The described reversed‐phase HPLC‐UV method offers a robust, accurate, and user‐friendly solution for chlorogenic acid determination in vitamin C tablets, supporting consistent quality control in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical production.