Detecting serotonin using capillary electrophoresis

CHED 179

Roberto N. Nunes, Joseph Bedard, and Christine E. MacTaylor, christine.mactaylor@salemstate.edu. Department of Chemistry and Physics, Salem State College, 352 Lafayette st, Salem, MA 01970
Serotonin is found in many different foods consumed on a daily basis. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has been found to regulate mood. Capillary electrophoresis was used to determine the amount of serotonin in varying samples. Banana, potato, cashews, dark, and milk chocolate were all tested. The capillary electrophoresis was conducted using a pre-column derivitazition with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and laser induced fluorescence with an argon laser. Specific experimental details will be discussed.