The extract was flowed slowly through the cartridges (1 ml min1). SPE columns were washed with 2 ml of water and gently vacuum-dried for 30 s. The colorants were eluted with 4.5 ml of a methanol/1%ammonia solution (1:1 v/v) in a graduated test tube. The final extractwas made up to a final volume of 5 ml with the same solvent mixture and 20 ml of solution were injected into the HPLC.