Raffinose Analysis Service

Creative Proteomics offers precise raffinose analysis services using advanced technologies like HPLC, HPAE-PAD, and UPLC-MS/MS. We provide accurate quantification, metabolite profiling, and customized solutions to support research in plant physiology, food quality, fermentation, and bioenergy. Our services help optimize crop yields, improve food processing, and enhance functional food development, addressing the growing demand for high-quality, trace-level carbohydrate analysis in various industries.

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What We Provide
Advantages
Technology Platform
Sample Requirements
FAQ
Publications

What is Raffinose?

Raffinose (C₁₈H₃₂O₁₆) is a trisaccharide composed of galactose, glucose, and fructose, belonging to the raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs). It is naturally abundant in legumes (e.g., beans), cruciferous vegetables (e.g., cabbage, broccoli), and grains. Unlike sucrose, raffinose resists hydrolysis in monogastric organisms (e.g., humans, poultry) due to the absence of α-galactosidase (α-GAL), leading to fermentation by gut microbiota and gas production. Beyond its dietary role, raffinose is critical in cryopreservation for cell desiccation and serves as a precursor for sucralose synthesis.

Raffinose Analysis Service Offered by Creative Proteomics

Raffinose Quantitative Analysis: Accurate measurement of raffinose levels in food matrices (e.g., processed grains, beverages), plant tissues, and agricultural products.
Metabolite Profiling: Detection of RFO derivatives, including stachyose (tetrasaccharide) and verbascose (pentasaccharide), to study metabolic pathways.
Stability Studies: Monitoring raffinose degradation under thermal or enzymatic stress for food processing optimization.
Customized Solutions: Tailored protocols for niche applications such as functional food development or plant stress response research.

List of Detectable Raffinose-Related Metabolites

Metabolite	Type	Detection Limit (ppm)
Raffinose	Trisaccharide	0.5
Stachyose	Tetrasaccharide	0.8
Verbascose	Pentasaccharide	1.2
D-Galactose	Monosaccharide	0.3
Sucrose	Disaccharide	0.4

Advantages of Raffinose Assay

Multi-Technology Synergy: Integration of HPLC-RID, HPAE-PAD, and UPLC-MS/MS platforms allows tailored method selection based on sample complexity and research goals.
Ultra-Low Detection Limits: Achieve quantification thresholds as low as 0.3 ppm for monosaccharides (e.g., D-galactose) and 0.5 ppm for raffinose, enabling trace-level analysis in biological fluids and fermented products.
Multi-Component Parallel Detection: Simultaneously quantify raffinose, stachyose, verbascose, and their hydrolysis products (e.g., sucrose, D-glucose) in a single run, reducing workflow redundancy.
High-Throughput Capability: Process up to 200 samples/day using automated Agilent 1260 Infinity II systems, ideal for large-scale agricultural or food quality control studies.
Matrix Adaptability: Validated protocols for lipid-rich extracts (e.g., seed oils), viscous beverages, and freeze-dried plant tissues, with recovery rates consistently >85% even in challenging matrices.

Technology Platforms for Raffinose Analysis Service

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Refractive Index Detection (HPLC-RID)

Instrument: Agilent 1260 Infinity II HPLC System (G7162A RID)
Column: Agilent Hi-Plex Ca (7.7 × 300 mm, 8 µm)
Application: Baseline separation of raffinose isomers (e.g., α/β-anomers) in plant extracts and dairy products

High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection (HPAE-PAD)

Instrument: Dionex ICS-6000 System
Column: CarboPac PA20 (3 × 150 mm)
Application: Quantify galactose, glucose, and fructose in hydrolyzed raffinose samples (e.g., enzymatic digestion studies)

Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS)

Instrument: Waters ACQUITY UPLC I-Class Plus / Xevo TQ-S micro
Ionization Mode: Electrospray Ionization (ESI) in negative mode
Application: Structural confirmation of raffinose derivatives (e.g., acetylated raffinose) in synthetic biology samples.

Agilent 1260 Infinity II HPLC (Figure from Agilent)

Waters ACQUITY UPLC I-Class Plus (Figure from Waters)

Sample Requirements for Raffinose Analysis Service

Sample Type	Minimum Sample Amount	Preferred Container	Storage Conditions	Notes
Plant Tissue (Leaves, Seeds, Roots)	200 mg (Fresh) or 100 mg (Dried)	Sterile centrifuge tube or sealed sample bag	-80°C for long-term storage or on dry ice for shipping	Remove soil and debris, freeze immediately after collection. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Food Products (Grains, Legumes, Vegetables)	1 g (Solid) or 5 mL (Liquid)	Sterile plastic container or vacuum-sealed bag	-20°C for solid samples, 4°C for liquids	Ensure representative sampling and homogenize thoroughly if necessary.
Human or Animal Blood	1 mL	EDTA or heparin-coated tube	4°C for short-term, -80°C for long-term storage	Centrifuge to separate plasma or serum if needed. Avoid hemolysis.
Urine	5 mL	Sterile collection tube	4°C for short-term, -80°C for long-term storage	Collect midstream samples and freeze promptly.
Feces	0.5 g	Sterile fecal collection tube	-80°C	Store immediately at -80°C. Avoid contamination during collection.

Applications of Raffinose Assay Service

Plant Physiology and Stress Response Studies

Analyze raffinose levels to investigate plant responses to environmental stresses such as drought, cold, and salinity.

Crop Improvement and Agricultural Research

Assess raffinose content in crops to enhance seed viability, germination rates, and overall yield.

Food Quality and Processing

Evaluate raffinose concentrations in legumes and grains to optimize food processing and reduce anti-nutritional factors.

Nutritional Composition Analysis

Determine raffinose content in food products for accurate nutritional labeling and dietary formulation.

Fermentation and Bioenergy Research

Study raffinose metabolism in microbial fermentation processes to improve biofuel production and other biotechnological applications.

Functional Food and Prebiotic Development

Investigate the prebiotic effects of raffinose to support the development of functional foods that promote gut health.

Demo

MALDI-FT-ICR mass spectra of (a) raffinose and (b) verbascose using HPA as matrix; ESI-FT-ICR mass spectra of (c) raffinose and (d) verbascose. Peaks labeled with solid triangle are potassium adduct ions (Yang et al., 2013).

FAQ of Raffinose Analysis Service

How do you ensure accuracy in low-concentration samples?

We employ pre-concentration techniques (e.g., solid-phase extraction) and validate recovery rates (85–110%) for trace-level analyses.

Can you analyze raffinose in fermented products?

Yes. Our protocols include microbial inactivation steps to prevent enzymatic interference during sample preparation.

What is the MOQ for custom method development?

A minimum of 20 samples is required to optimize and validate tailored protocols.

Do you provide stability-indicating assays?

Yes. We design forced degradation studies (heat, pH, oxidation) to identify raffinose breakdown products.

How are data delivered?

Clients receive a comprehensive report with raw chromatograms, calibration curves, and statistical analysis in PDF/Excel formats.

Learn about other Q&A.

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Raffinose Analysis Service Case Study

Article

Goat Colostrum Oligosaccharides Characterization by Nano-LC-Chip-Q-TOF MS and HILIC-MS

Publications

Here are some of the glycomics-related papers published by our clients:

Identification of the O-Glycan Epitope Targeted by the Anti-Human Carcinoma Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) NEO-201. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14204999
Modulation of the Endomembrane System by the Anticancer Natural Product Superstolide/ZJ-101. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119575
Conformational differences between functional human immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoprotein trimers and stabilized soluble trimers. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.01709-18
Alternative glycosylation controls endoplasmic reticulum dynamics and tubular extension in mammalian cells. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe8349

More Publications

References

Yang, Hongmei, et al. "Identification of reducing and nonreducing neutral carbohydrates by laser‐enhanced in‐source decay (LEISD) MALDI MS." Journal of Mass Spectrometry 48.5 (2013): 539-543. https://doi.org/10.1002/jms.3202
Jorge, Tiago F., et al. "Quantification and structural characterization of raffinose family oligosaccharides in Casuarina glauca plant tissues by porous graphitic carbon electrospray quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry." International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 413 (2017): 127-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2016.05.004

Metabolomics Sample Submission Guidelines

Download our Metabolomics Sample Preparation Guide for essential instructions on proper sample collection, storage, and transport for optimal experimental results. The guide covers various sample types, including tissues, serum, urine, and cells, along with quantity requirements for untargeted and targeted metabolomics.

Download

Metabolomics Sample Submission Guidelines

* For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

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From Our Clients

"I recently used their proteomics service for a project analyzing protein interactions in yeast models. The team was very responsive and helped clarify the methodology they employed, which made me feel confident in the results. The data quality was solid, with clear identification of several key proteins involved in our study. Their thorough analysis enabled me to pinpoint specific interactions that I hadn't considered before, which significantly improved the direction of my research. I appreciate their professionalism and support throughout the process."

Sarah Thompson, University of California, Berkeley

"Our lab collaborated with them on a project studying cancer biomarkers. The proteomics analysis provided was detailed and focused, specifically highlighting the differential expression of proteins between healthy and tumor samples. Their clear explanations of the data helped my team understand the biological implications. I also appreciated their willingness to revise the reports based on our feedback, ensuring that we had everything we needed for our publication. This collaborative spirit was invaluable."

Emily Rodriguez, Stanford University

"Our lab worked with them on a project studying the effects of diet on gut microbiota using proteomics. They used a label-free quantification method to analyze proteins in fecal samples before and after dietary intervention. The results showed significant changes in protein expression linked to microbial activity. This was pivotal for our hypothesis about diet-microbiota interactions. The clarity of their data presentation made it easy for our team to integrate these findings into our ongoing research."

Dr. Lisa Wong, University of Toronto

"My experience with Creative Proteomics during the mass spectrometry analysis was excellent. We sent in human saliva and mouse brain tissue samples, which they expertly analyzed using both LC-MS and GC-MS techniques. The results were invaluable, revealing key metabolites in the saliva and identifying biomarkers linked to brain function in the brain tissue."

Dr. Emily Carter, Senior Research Scientist

"The overall service from Creative Proteomics was outstanding. They made the entire process seamless and efficient, allowing us to focus on our research. We worked with leaf and root samples from various Arabidopsis genotypes for targeted metabolomics analysis. Their thorough profiling of primary and secondary metabolites gave us important insights into how the plants respond metabolically to environmental stress."

Dr. Laura Henderson, Plant Physiologist

"We had a pleasant collaboration with Creative Proteomics on mass spectrometry analysis of lipids. They conducted a detailed analysis of lipid species, providing us with important insights into lipid metabolism and its relationship with metabolic syndrome disease states."

Dr. Sarah Mitchell, Research Scientist

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