Applicability and Correlation among Different Methods for Content Determination of Oats β-glucan

Different analysis methods for β-glucan content were reported in literature. Three main methods, i.e., enzyme method (an international standard), gel chromatography (both quantitative and molecular weight measuring), and Congo red method (a high throughput way) were compared in different samples to investigate the linear correlation, consistency and applicability of gel chromatography and Congo red as compared with enzyme method. It was concluded that:For high-purity oats β-glucan, any of the three methods could be chosen with good consistency at the level between 102% and 108%.While for low-purity sample, the consistency for gel chromatography compared with enzyme method (an international standard) was 96% to 111%, and significant linear correlation (r=0.967, p=0.000) for the results between the two methods was observed. The Congo red method might lead to higher content value with consistency from 143% to 228%, and linear correlation (r=0.723, p=0.012) as compared with enzyme method. At last, the merits and drawbacks were compared among three methods, each of which was of irreplaceable advantage. It was suggested that the method which was taken in actural measurement could be considered by comparison of the accuracy and economy.