[A new HPLC method for determination of main constituents of the streptothricin complex. Analysis of nourseothricin, grisin and kormogrisin].

A simple and reliable HPLC method for quantitative analysis of complex antibiotics consisting of a mixture of streptothricins F, E, D and C in a biological matrix was developed. The method is based on ion-pair separation of streptothricins on the reversed-phase C18 analytical column with UV detector (210 nm). Aqueous solution of acetonitrile containing trifluoroacetic acid and octane-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt was used as eluent. Retention times of streptothricins became longer as the molecular weight increased, i.e. the component F was eluted first, then followed components E, D and C. The total time of the analysis was ca. 22 min. Composition of the standard samples of nourseothricin and grisin, as well as the streptothricin content of the commercial grisin-based kormogrisin were determined. Components F and D were found to be dominant in the streptothricin complex comprising totally 70-90%, with streptothricin F prevailing in nourseothricin (56%) and streptothricin D being the major constituent in grisin (51%), while in the kormogrisin the concentrations of components D and F were approximately the same. The portion of E varied from 5 to 20% and the concentration of streptothricin C changed within the range of 3-11%. The peaks of the admixtures present in kormogrisin did not interfere with determination of the streptothricin components. It is suggested that the method described can be applied to determination of the streptothricins in biological objects without a complex preliminary sample preparation.

[Comparative analysis of degradation of native avermectins and spinosyns by UV-HPLC]. / Sravnitel'nyi analiz degradatsii prirodnykh avermektinov i spinozinov metodom UF-BEZhKh.

Degradation rates and compositional changes in active ingredients of the two crop protection insecticides, Fitoverm and Spinosad, have been compared by using a reverse-phase HPLC with UV detection (250 nm). Decay of the major components of active ingredients: spinosyns A and D (Spinosad) and avermectins A1a, A2a, B1a and B2a (Fitoverm) was studied in the thin dry layer on the glass at sunlight at regular day/night changes of temperature. The following results were obtained: 1) 50% degradation time for spinosyns was about two times shorter than that for avermectins: at 40 degrees C day-time temperature it was 6 hours and 10 hours, respectively, while at 23 degrees C these times increased approx. ten-fold; 2) the initial composition of spinosyns was changed during degradation: ratio of spinosyns A/D was increased (i.e. D component degraded faster than the A one) and additionally 4-5 new spinosyns and/or their derivatives were formed; 3) rate of degradation of each avermectin was practically the same, i.e. percent composition of avermectins did not significantly alter; 4) retention times of avermectins B2a, A2a and A1a were similar to those of either initial spinosyns (A) or products of their decay. It is concluded that determination of spinosysn residues with the aid of UV-HPLC is a complex task since both initial spinosyns (A and D) and their conversion/decay products must be measured. The latter can be dominant residues and not always easy to identify. Analysis consider to be complicated when a sample contains residues of both spinosyns and avermectins.