Chromatography in Bioactivity Analysis of Compounds

Chromatographic techniques have led to considerable development in mixture ingredient analysis. With the development of stationary-phase and high-pressure module technologies, new possibilities have emerged for the separation of complex systems whose components are characterised by similar structures and properties. Modern detection systems now allow detection and identification of individual ingredients. Data on their electrical properties, characteristic ways of molecule ionisation, and their ability to absorb or emit electromagnetic waves are used for this purpose (among others). The possibilities offered by chromatographic techniques are also used to isolate mixture ingredients for further analysis or to compose mixtures with predesigned properties. Appropriate tests preceded by isolation of analysed ingredients from the biological matrix are applied to determine the characteristics of compo‐ nents of analysed biological samples. In some circumstances this can be very arduous because the separation process itself is timeand cost-consuming or it is necessary to have appropriate infrastructure. Preparative-scale chromatographic separation can be conducted using the techniques of preparative thin-layer chromatography (prep-TLC), preparative column chromatography (prep-LC) as well as preparative-scale high-performance liquid chromatog‐ raphy (prep-HPLC). Isolated fractions or purified compounds can serve as material for determination of their biological properties. Currently, researchers are greatly interested in methods of analysis and identification for compounds which are antioxidants or inhibitors of specific transformations in the biochemistry of living organisms. Ingredients isolated from the material are purified by solid-phase extraction (SPE), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), preparative column chromatography (prep-LC) and preparative-scale high performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC). The obtained compounds or fractions are the subject of research to determine their biological properties in tests with DPPH, ABTS, AAPH radicals, the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, etc. This procedure is cost-, timeand labour-consuming and the obtained results may be uncertain. This uncertainty is connected with the fact that during