Chlorogenic acid assay

Chlorogenic acid is a polyphenol naturally present in many plants, particularly green coffee, apples, artichokes, sunflowers, and certain medicinal herbs. It is an ester of caffeic acid and quinic acid, belonging to the hydroxycinnamic acid family. Its value in nutraceuticals and functional foods lies in its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its beneficial effects on regulating carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

Chlorogenic acid measurement is therefore essential to guarantee the quality, efficacy, and compliance of plant extracts or health-related formulations. It also serves as a marker of authenticity and standardization for many natural ingredients used in dietary supplements or fortified food products.

A reliable method based on liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD, LC-MS/MS)

Chlorogenic acid is generally determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD) or coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). These techniques allow for precise detection, even at low concentrations, and ensure good selectivity for other polyphenols present in the matrix.

Depending on the nature of the samples and the level of quantification required, the method can be adapted:

• HPLC-DAD for concentrated extracts or routine quality controls.
• LC-MS/MS for complex matrices or trace analysis.

The methods used are generally validated according to the quality standards of the laboratories (ISO 17025, GMP/GLP if required) and can be adapted to regulatory specifications (e.g. nutrition claims, EFSA, Codex Alimentarius).

Commonly analyzed matrices

Chlorogenic acid analysis is relevant in a wide range of natural and processed products, including:

• Green coffee extracts, particularly in slimming or antioxidant supplements
• Plant-based food supplements (artichoke, mate, apple, etc.)
• Herbal teas, infusions and plant powders
• Antioxidant formulations in health nutrition
• Functional food products enriched with polyphenols

Why measure chlorogenic acid?

The value of dosage lies in several strategic areas:

• Quality control of standardized extracts: verification of the expected concentration of chlorogenic acid in the ingredient or raw material.
• Evaluation of functional claims: chlorogenic acid being recognized for its effect on the modulation of blood glucose and its antioxidant properties, its presence must be verified to justify certain claims.
• Regulatory compliance: within the framework of legislation on food supplements (e.g., regulation of active ingredient content).
• Authentication of plant extracts: detection of the presence or absence of chlorogenic acid as a tracer of a phytocompound profile.

A service tailored to your needs, from R&D to production

At YesWeLab, we provide you with a network of partner laboratories specializing in the analysis of plant-based active ingredients, equipped with the latest chromatography technologies (HPLC, UPLC, LC-MS/MS). Each request is handled individually based on:

• The matrix to be analyzed (dry extract, liquid, finished product…)
• The expected quantification threshold
• The required level of validation (R&D, production, regulations…)

Most of our partner laboratories are ISO 17025 certified, and some have specific accreditations depending on your sector (COFRAC, GMP, GLP…).

Have your extracts analyzed with YesWeLab

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