Capillary electrophoresis separation of autocondensation glycation products of glucosamine.

Glucosamine nonenzymatically forms autocondensation glycation products under physiological conditions. Many studies have reported the effectiveness of oral doses of glucosamine alone or in combination with the galactosamine containing chondroitin in treating osteoarthritis. However, none of these studies has considered whether it is the glucosamine itself and/or one or more of its autocondensation products that exert this effect. A capillary electrophoresis method was developed to monitor the nonenzymatic formation of autocondensation glycation products of glucosamine, galactosamine, and mannosamine under physiological conditions. Major components were detected and separated by CE with a UV detector. The effects of concentration and incubation time on product species were determined. The method described is simple, rapid, and effective.