Determination of a method for extraction of coenzyme Q10 in human plasma: optimization of the use of surfactants and other variables

objective: to establish a routine for the extraction of the total levels of coq10 in human plasma through the ultra high performance liquid chromatography (uhplc). methods: two extraction protocols were tested: a) methanol: hexane and b) 1-propanol. the following parameters were analyzed: extraction temperature (19oc and 4oc), extraction tubes (glass and polypropylene), and surfactants (sds, triton x-100, tween-20) at different concentrations, i.e., 1%, 3%, 5% and 10%. results: the results showed that the method of extraction of coq10 in a sample of human plasma at 4oc, using solvents methanol: hexane (85:15, v/v) in the presence of surfactant tween-20 at 3% and polypropylene tubes showed better efficiency and reproducibility when compared to the method with 1-propanol. conclusion: by the analyses performed, it was possible to observe that the addition of the surfactant tween-20 promoted an increase in the recovery of coq10 by the methanol:hexane extraction method. this method showed good reproducibility, with a low coefficient of variation and high sensitivity, since coq10 was detected in samples of plasma of a control individual using a uv-type detector. the use of uhplc equipment allowed a total analysis with total run time of 3.5 minutes, enabling the rapid achievement of results, considered mandatory for laboratory routines.