Determination of caffeine, theobromine and theophylline in Mate beer and Mate soft drinks by high-performance thin-layer chromatography

摘要

Highlights?A rapid method for caffeine, theobromine and theophylline in Mate beer was developed.?HPTLC analysis with sensitive ultraviolet detection was applied.?Limit of quantitation was below 1.6mg methylxanthines/L.?Recovery rates were near 100%.AbstractMate beer and Mate soft drinks are beverages produced from the dried leaves ofIlex paraguariensis(Yerba Mate). In Yerba Mate, the xanthine derivatives caffeine, theobromine and theophylline, also known as methylxanthines, are important active components. The presented method for the determination of caffeine, theobromine and theophylline in Mate beer and Mate soft drinks by high-performance thin-layer chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPTLC–UV) offers a fully automated and sensitive determination of the three methylxanthines. Filtration of the samples was followed by degassing, dilution with acetonitrile in the case