Thin-layer chromatography as a rapid screening tool for avocadyne in avocado-derived matrices

Abstract This study addresses the analytical challenge of detecting non-chromophoric compounds in complex plant-derived matrices. Avocadyne, a long-chain aliphatic acetogenin reported as a characteristic constituent of Persea americana, lacks UV-absorbing chromophores, limiting its detection by conventional HPLC-UV methods. In this work, a comparative chromatographic approach employing thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and HPLC-UV was used to investigate the detectability of compounds exhibiting chromatographic characteristics consistent with avocadyne in hydroalcoholic avocado extracts and a commercial essential fatty acid formulation. TLC analysis, combined with Goldin’s reagent, revealed a characteristic band with an Rf value of 0.55 in both matrices. The observed chromatographic behavior was consistent with values previously reported in the literature for avocadyne under comparable analytical conditions, providing qualitative evidence compatible with the presence of this compound. In contrast, HPLC-UV analysis performed at wavelengths between 210 and 366 nm did not reveal a corresponding signal under the conditions employed. The comparison between both techniques emphasizes the importance of selecting analytical methodologies according to the physicochemical characteristics of the target compounds. These findings suggest that TLC may serve as a simple, rapid, and cost-effective screening tool for chromatographic fingerprinting and preliminary quality control of lipid-rich plant-derived products containing UV-inactive compounds. However, complementary analytical techniques are required for definitive structural confirmation.