A new method of capillary electrophoresis for metabolites of coumarin.

The metabolism of coumarin has been very widely investigated compared with other natural compounds. We know today that genetic variations lead to human groups with a high or low coumarin-metabolism. An effective capillary-electrophoresis method has been developed to study these effects on metabolic patterns. The seven most important metabolites can be analysed in one step. Therefore also small volume samples can be examined for phase-I-reactions (hydroxylation of coumarin) as well as for secondary reactions (e.g. glucuronidation or decomposition of the lactone-structure).