The Quantitation of Lecithin, Sphingomyelin and Their Ratios by Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract We describe a new method for measuring lecithin and its ratio to sphingomyelin with the use of infrared spectrophotometry. The method offers quantitation of lecithin, and sphingomyelin and their ratios, in approximately two hours, without the use of thin layer chromatography. Once the extraction of phospholipids is completed, an infrared spectral scan from 4000 to 400 (cm′) is obtained from which two peaks are measured and quantitated for lecithin and sphingomyelin and their ratios.