High-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for simultaneous detection of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 in Indian medicinal herbs using QuEChERS-based extraction procedure

Since the discovery of aflatoxins (AFs) in the 1960s, much research has focused on detecting the toxins in contaminated food and feedstuffs. But the quality determination in medicinal plant matrices with respect to AFs is scare. Hence, a simple, accurate and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method was developed for simultaneous determination of AFs AFB₁, AFB₂, AFG₁ and AFG₂ in two Indian popular medicinal herbs i.e. senna (Cassia angustifolia) and kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata). AFs have been extracted from herb matrix using a QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe)-based extraction procedure followed by applying primary secondary amine and C18 for further clean-up step and then were quantified under the multiple reaction monitoring together with positive ionisation modes. Matrix-matched calibration was used for quantification in order to reduce the matrix effect. Validation of the method was carried out in herbs by recovery experiments. Recoveries of the spiked samples were in the range of 61.9–111.5% with an inter-day and intraday relative standard deviation lower than 20.0%. Limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.41 to 0.95 ng mL^?1 and 1.2 to 3.8 μg kg^?1, respectively. The expanded uncertainty of the method was <21% for all the toxins in both the herbs. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to determine AF residues in real field samples of senna and kalmegh obtained from different locations in India.     

Determination of aflatoxins in olive oil by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric with electrospray ionization (LC/ESI-MS/MS) method for determining the four naturally occurring aflatoxins (AFs) B1, B2, G1, and G2 in olive oil is proposed. AFs were extracted from oil sample by means of matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPDE), utilizing C18 as dispersing material. No further purification step, such as lipid removal, was performed. Aflatoxin M1, the hepatic metabolite of AFB1, was employed as internal standard. Olive oil extract was analyzed by LC/ESI-MS/MS in positive ionization mode, with multireaction monitoring acquisition. Due to a signal suppression ranging between 4 and 23%, quantitation was performed by matrix-matched calibration curves. The regression line coefficients of determination were above 0.9991. Sample recoveries ranged from 92 to 107%, with relative standard deviations below 13% for spiking levels between 0.5 and 5 ng g⁻¹; method quantification limits ranged between 0.04 and 0.12 ng g⁻¹. The developed LC/ESI-MS/MS method, although not as sensitive as LC coupled to fluorescence detection, is rapid, selective, accurate and precise, thus it can be used as confirmatory assay. The MSPDE appears suitable for application to other oleaginous matrices and for multiresidue investigation.     

Simultaneous determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and M2 in peanuts and their derivative products by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A reliable ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and M2 in peanuts and their derivative products was developed. The sample was extracted by 84% of acetonitrile aqueous solution and the extract was purified by a reliable solid phase extraction-based clean-up method. Then, the analytes were separated on Acquity UPLC HSS T3 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm particle size), and eluted with a mobile phase consisting of (A) water containing 0.1% formic acid and (B) acetonitrile/methanol (50/50, v/v). The separated compounds were detected with a Waters Micromass Quattro Ultima Pt tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in positive electro-spray ionization using multiple reaction monitoring mode. The established method was extensively validated by determining the linearity (R² ≥ 0.9990), average recovery (74.7-86.8%) and precision (relative standard deviation ≤ 10.9%). It was shown to be a suitable method for simultaneous determination of the six aflatoxins in peanuts and their derivative products. Finally, a total of 73 samples randomly collected from different areas in Zhejiang province were screened for aflatoxins with the proposed method. The results showed that 31 samples of peanut butter, 14 samples of fresh peanut and 5 samples of musty peanut were contaminated with aflatoxins. Meanwhile, this was the first report on aflatoxins M1 and M2, which were found in unprocessed peanuts and their derivative products.     

Determination of the esculetin contents of medicinal plants by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

We developed a LC‐MS/MS method for the determination of esculetin contents in medicinal plants. The analysis was performed using multiple reaction monitoring in negative mode, and an XBridge? C₁₈ column (2.1 × 100 mm, 3.5 µm) was used. Methanol and 0.1% formic acid were used for gradient analysis. The calibration curve showed good linearity (r² > 0.9993). The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.02 and 0.07 ng/mL, respectively. The intra‐day and inter‐day precisions were 1.5–6.8 and 2.0–5.3%, respectively, and the accuracy was 102.0–110.2%. The contents of esculetin in 35 different plants were determined, and Fraxini Cortex showed the highest content of esculetin (761–5475 mg/kg). In Mori Folium and Artemisiae Capillaris Herba, 5.2–21.5 and 7.0–17.6 mg/kg of esculetin were found, respectively. In other medicinal plants, no esculetin was detected, or it was present at a concentration less than 10 mg/kg. The analysis method appears to be simple, sensitive and reproducible. Contrary to expectations based on traditional medical knowledge, although Artemisiae Capillaris Herba contains a large amount of esculetin, it appears from this study that Fraxini Cortex contains a greater amount. The pharmacological effects of esculetin isolated from medicinal plants should be investigated as part of new medicines development. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of faropenem in human plasma and urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A simple, rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) quantitative detection method, using cefalexin as internal standard, was developed for the analysis of faropenem in human plasma and urine. After precipitation of the plasma proteins with acetonitrile, the analytes were separated on a C18 reversed-phase column with 0.1% formic acid-methanol (45:55, v/v) and detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. Calibration curves with good linearities (r=0.9991 for plasma sample and r=0.9993 for urine sample) were obtained in the range 5-4000 ng/mL for faropenem. The limit of detection was 5 ng/mL. Recoveries were around 90% for the extraction from human plasma, and good precision and accuracy were achieved. This method is feasible for the evaluation of pharmacokinetic profiles of faropenem in humans, and to our knowledge, it is the first time the pharmacokinetic of faropenem has been elucidated in vivo using LC-MS/MS.     

免疫亲和萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法分离测定中成药及中药材中的5种黄曲霉毒素

利用免疫亲和萃取结合超高效液相色谱-串联四极杆质谱技术(UHPLC-ESI/QqQ-MS/MS)建立了中成药及中药材中5种黄曲霉毒素(B1、B2、G1、G2和M1)的提取、分离、确证与定量方法。样品经80%(体积分数)的甲醇水溶液提取和免疫亲和固相萃取后,采用UHPLC-ESI/QqQ-MS/MS的多反应监测模式实现分离、鉴定和外标法定量。5种目标毒素标准溶液的检出限(LOD)为0.05～0.3 μg/L。在0.5～100 μg/L的基质添加浓度范围内具有良好的线性关系(r2＞0.99);以甘草为例,当添加水平为1.0 μg/kg和5.0 μg/kg时,得到62.3%～82.4%的回收率(相对标准偏差(RSD)＜10%, n=6)。该方法灵敏度高、选择性和重复性好、回收率较高、检测速度快,适用于中成药及中药材等复杂基体中多种黄曲霉毒素的快速分析与筛查。     

高效液相色谱串联质谱法检测腰果中黄曲霉毒素

建立了腰果中4种黄曲霉毒素的高效液相色谱-串联质谱检测方法(HPLC-MS/MS)。样品用甲醇-水(8:2, v/v)溶液提取后用弗罗里硅土柱净化,5 mL丙酮-水-甲酸溶液(96:3.5:0.5, v/v/v)洗脱,氮吹至干,1 mL甲醇定容;在资生堂MG C18色谱柱(100 mm×3.0 mm, 3 μm)上梯度洗脱分离,然后采用电喷雾离子化三重四极杆串联质谱测定。实验结果表明,4种黄曲霉毒素在各自的线性范围内峰面积与其质量浓度线性关系良好,相关系数(r2)大于0.997;检出限(信噪比为3)为0.009～0.04 μg/kg,定量限(信噪比为10)为0.03～0.12 μg/kg;平均回收率为63.0%～78.5%,相对标准偏差为2.8%～9.1%,均符合痕量分析的要求。评价了基质效应,信号抑制/增强值为88.8%～99.4%,说明净化后的基质效应较小。该方法简单快速、准确可靠,可用于腰果中黄曲霉毒素的检测。     

An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and M2 in traditional Chinese medicines

An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and M2 in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) was developed. The approach was characterized in details and a special focus was placed on the recovery rates of isolation procedure in different TCM matrices, i.e. rhizomes and roots, seeds, flowers, grasses and leaves. For this purpose, [¹³C₁₇]-aflatoxinB1 was employed as the internal standard and a reliable solid phase extraction-based clean-up method was developed. The observed recovery rates of the six aflatoxins ranged from 85.6% to 117.6% in different matrices. Then, the established method was successfully applied to the determination of the six aflatoxins in various TCMs. For 30 commercial samples analyzed, 16 were contaminated with aflatoxins. The mean levels (incidence) of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 in positive samples were 1.40 (68.8%), 1.27 (50.0%), 0.50 (43.8%) and 0.94 (43.8%) μg kg⁻¹, respectively. Interestingly, aflatoxin M1 was detected in two samples with the maximal content of 0.70 μg kg⁻¹. No sample was contaminated with aflatoxin M2. Meanwhile, a possible association between the contamination levels and the selected herbs was clarified in the present study.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定葡萄中链霉素和双氢链霉素

研究系统地优化了样品前处理过程及仪器分析中影响链霉素和双氢链霉素残留分析准确度与响应灵敏度的各主要因素,建立了葡萄中链霉素和双氢链霉素残留的快速精准定量分析方法。葡萄样品经磷酸溶液(pH=2)超声提取、Oasis HLB单固相萃取柱富集净化后,采用Waters HSS T3色谱柱(100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8μm)分离,柱温35℃,进样量2μL,以0.1%甲酸水溶液-甲醇溶液(60∶40, v/v)为流动相进行等度洗脱,在正离子、电喷雾电离源多反应监测模式下测定,外标法定量。链霉素和双氢链霉素在2～400μg/L质量浓度范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(R²)分别为0.999 1和0.999 7;在5、10、20和40μg/kg4个添加水平下的平均回收率为76.8%～91.9%,相对标准偏差为0.4%～10.2%;链霉素和双氢链霉素的检出限(LOD)为1μg/L,定量限(LOQ)为5μg/kg。为验证该方法的适用性,将方法适用于无籽红提、新郁葡萄、夏黑葡萄等实际样品中进行添加回收实验,链霉素和双氢链霉素的平均回收率分别为77.2%～83.9%和70.8%～78...     

超高效液相色谱法快速测定发酵茶叶中的黄曲霉毒素

建立了用超高效液相色谱/紫外检测器测定发酵茶叶中黄曲霉毒素B1、B2、G1和G2的方法.用CH2Q2提取黄曲霉毒素,提取液经浓缩后,用LC-CN固相萃取小柱净化,超高效液相色谱测定.在浓度范围20～200μg/L(B1、G1),15～120μg/L(B2、G2)内具有良好的线性相关关系.黄曲霉毒素的回收率为81.4%～92.3%,相对标准偏差RSD 1.6%～4.2%.检出限为0.32μg/kg(B1、G1),0.18μg/kg(B2、G2)(S/N=3).     

固相萃取-高效液相色谱-串联质谱法检测香辛料中罗丹明B

建立了香辛料中罗丹明B的固相萃取-高效液相色谱-串联质谱分析方法。样品经乙腈提取后离心,在提取液中加入10 mL 1%三氯乙酸溶液后,用Bond Elut Plexa PCX强阳离子固相萃取柱净化、富集,Pursuit C18色谱柱(100 mm×2.0 mm, 3 μm)分离,以0.1%甲酸水和甲醇为流动相梯度洗脱,电喷雾电离正离子模式下多反应监测(MRM)模式进行定性、定量检测。结果表明,在0.6～6 μg/L范围内的线性相关系数R2＞0.99;方法的定量限为1.2 μg/kg;添加量分别为1.197、2.992及5.985 μg/L时的加标回收率为80%～121%,相对标准偏差＜15%。同时对流动相的洗脱梯度、提取溶剂、固相萃取柱等条件进行了优化。该方法的专属性较强,基质效应较小,可用于固体香辛料产品中罗丹明B的定性、定量分析。     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定果汁中的展青霉素

建立了超高效液相色谱-电喷雾串联三重四极杆质谱(UPLC-ESI-MS/MS)联用技术分析果汁中展青霉素的方法。浓缩果汁样品经酶解,乙酸乙酯提取,Oasis HLB固相萃取(SPE)小柱净化后(澄清果汁直接进行SPE净化),以C18色谱柱为分离柱,以水和乙腈作为流动相进行梯度洗脱,电喷雾离子源电离、负离子多反应监测模式质谱进行定性和定量分析。展青霉素在1.0～500.0 μg/L质量浓度范围内线性关系良好,相关系数为0.999,方法的定量限为5.0 μg/kg;加标水平为5.0、25.0和100.0 μg/kg时,加标回收率为80.6%～91.8%,相对标准偏差为1.5%～7.3%。实验结果表明,该方法简单、灵敏、准确,各项技术指标均满足国内外法规要求,可用于果汁中展青霉素的检测。     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定蜂蜜中的阿莫西林残留量

建立了高效液相色谱-串联质谱测定蜂蜜中阿莫西林残留的方法。样品用磷酸氢二钾溶液提取,经固相萃取柱进行净化提取后,以C18柱为分离柱,甲醇和0.1%(v/v)甲酸水溶液为流动相,用串联质谱仪检测,选择1个母离子和2个子离子进行选择反应监测,选择信号最强的子离子进行定量测定。该方法采用外标法定量,在2.0～100.0 μg/L范围内,阿莫西林的峰面积与其质量浓度呈良好的线性关系(r2＞0.99),方法的检出限和定量限分别为2.0 μg/kg和5.0 μg/kg,回收率范围为74.2%～81.7%,日内精密度范围为2.8%～7.8%,日间精密度范围为9.1%～11.3%。该方法简便快捷,可以用于蜂蜜中阿莫西林残留量的测定。     

固相萃取-液相色谱-串联质谱法测定中药材中7种甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂的残留量

建立了采用固相萃取-液相色谱-串联质谱同时测定麦冬、玄参、延胡索中7种甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂残留量的方法。样品经乙酸乙酯提取,氨基固相萃取柱净化后,经C18色谱柱分离,以甲醇和1.0‰甲酸溶液为流动相梯度洗脱,电喷雾正离子模式离子化,选择反应监测方式监测,串联质谱测定,外标法定量。结果显示,各目标物在1或2个数量级浓度范围内的线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.996。醚菌胺、啶氧菌酯和肟菌酯的定量限为2 μg/kg,嘧菌酯和吡唑醚菌酯的定量限为4 μg/kg, Z-苯氧菌胺和醚菌酯的定量限为10 μg/kg。各杀菌剂的回收率为60.4%～110%,相对标准偏差为1.2%～17%。该方法能满足麦冬、玄参、延胡索中7种目标杀菌剂残留量的检测。     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定卷烟中的儿茶酚

建立了一种高效液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)测定卷烟中儿茶酚的分析方法。样品经2.5 mol/L硫酸加热回流后用水蒸气蒸馏提取,C₁₈固相萃取柱富集净化后进行HPLC-MS/MS分析,采用甲醇-0.2%(v/v)的甲酸水溶液作为流动相进行梯度洗脱,以电喷雾负离子(ESI^-)扫描和多反应监测(MRM)模式对目标物进行定性和定量分析。目标物儿茶酚的含量在0.5~200 μg/kg时与峰面积呈良好的线性关系(r²=0.9989);在样品中添加高、中、低3个水平的标准品,其加标回收率在83.1%~98.6%之间,相对标准偏差(RSD)在1.9%~5.8%之间。应用本方法对6种市售卷烟样品进行了测试,结果从6种市售卷烟中均检出了儿茶酚。该方法操作简单、快速、灵敏度高,适用于卷烟中儿茶酚的检测。     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定白芷中3种香豆素

建立了白芷中欧前胡素,异欧前胡素和氧化前胡素的液相色谱-串联质谱分析法。白芷提取液经Waters XTerra-C18(150mm×3.9 mm,5μm)色谱柱分离,以1mmol/L乙酸铵溶液和乙腈为流动相进行洗脱,以电喷雾正离子(ESI+)模式电离,多反应监测(MRM)模式检测,外标法定量。欧前胡素,异欧前胡素和氧化前胡素分别在0.05～10μg/mL,0.05～13μg/mL和0.1～120μg/mL范围内呈线性相关,相关系数(r)分别为0.9993,0.9991和0.9994,检出限分别为30,30和50 ng/mL,平均加标回收率为100.1%,99.4%和98.4%,相对标准偏差分别为2.2%,2.6%和2.8%(ρ=0.5μg/mL,n=6),该法可以满足同时检测白芷中欧前胡素,异欧前胡素和氧化前胡素的需求。     

HPLC-MS-MS法测定水体中残留的氨基甲酸酯类农药

应用高效液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS-MS)联用技术,建立了检测水体中氨基甲酸酯类农药残留的方法。水样经氨基柱固相萃取,二氯甲烷洗脱,梯度流动相洗脱,电喷雾正离子(ESI+)模式采集、选择反应性监测模式(SRM)对定性、定量离子进行MS/MS测定。5种氨基甲酸酯类农药在5～200ng/L范围内线性关系良好,回收率为80%～92%,相对标准偏差均小于10%,方法检出限分别为:异丙威和仲丁威为1.4ng/L,克百威和甲萘威为1.5ng/L,恶虫威为1.6ng/L。该方法适用于水体中氨基甲酸酯类农药残留的检测。     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定多种农产品中杀草强的残留量

建立了采用高效液相色谱-串联质谱法(HPLC-MS/MS)检测多种农产品中杀草强残留量的方法。根据样品基质不同,分别采用25%丙酮水溶液(针对小麦、鱼、肉和肝脏样品)、1%乙酸酸化的25%丙酮水溶液(针对玉米和花生样品)、1%乙酸水溶液(针对金银花、姜粉、花椒粉和茶叶样品)及1%乙酸水溶液和二氯甲烷(针对苹果、菠萝、菠菜、胡萝卜和紫苏叶）进行提取,然后依次采用二氯甲烷萃取、PCX或ENVI-Carb固相萃取柱净化后,进行HPLC-MS/MS测定,外标法定量。在0.005～0.1 mg/kg范围内,杀草强的峰面积与其质量浓度有良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.9997。对上述15种不同种类的农产品进行添加回收,回收率为67.5%~98.1%,相对标准偏差为1.0%~9.8%。苹果、菠菜、紫苏叶、玉米、姜、鱼和肉等样品的定量限为0.01 mg/kg,茶叶、金银花、花椒粉的定量限为0.02 mg/kg。该方法的灵敏度、准确度和精密度均符合农药残留测定的技术要求。     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定花粉中的链霉素和双氢链霉素

建立了花粉中链霉素（streptomycin,STR）与双氢链霉素（dihydrostreptomycin,DHS）的高效液相色谱-串联质谱（HPLC-MS/MS）检测方法。样品经提取液提取、三氯甲烷沉淀蛋白后,用C18固相萃取柱进行富集净化,采用HPLC-MS/MS对目标物进行定性确证和定量分析。在Protemix WCX-NP5色谱柱（100 mm×2.1 mm,5 μm）上以5%（v/v）甲酸、20 mmol/L醋酸铵和甲醇为流动相进行梯度洗脱分离;质谱采集模式为电喷雾正离子监测模式。链霉素和双氢链霉素的检出限（以信噪比（S/N）=3计）均为5 μg/kg,定量限（以S/N=10计）均为10 μg/kg;在10~200 μg/L的质量浓度范围内呈现良好的线性关系,相关系数（r）大于0.99。本底空白的松花粉、玉米花粉、茶花粉、葵花粉、油菜花粉、杂花粉等6种基质中10、20、50 μg/kg添加水平下的加标回收率范围为76.8%~100.3%,精密度范围为3.70%~12.6%。该方法无需使用对LC-MS联用仪容易造成污染的七氟正丁酸,且方法准确可靠,适用于大部分花粉基质的测定。     

Determination and pharmacokinetics of [6]-gingerol in mouse plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

This study describes the development of a rapid and sensitive high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) assay for the quantification of [6]‐gingerol in mouse plasma and application to a pharmacokinetic study after dose ranging in mice. The assay involved a protein precipitation step with acetonitrile and an isocratic elution using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% formic acid (80:20 v/v). The multiple reaction monitoring was based on the transition of m/z = 277.2 → 177.1 for [6]‐gingerol and 294.2 → 137.1 for nonivamide (internal standard). The assay was validated to demonstrate the specificity, linearity, recovery, accuracy, precision and stability. The calibration curves were linear over the wide concentration range of 10–10,000 ng/mL (r ≥ 0.9988). The lower limit of quantification was 10 ng/mL using a small volume of mouse plasma (20 μL). The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in mice after intravenous injection of [6]‐gingerol at 1.5, 3 and 6 mg/kg doses. The pharmacokinetics of [6]‐gingerol were linear over the dose range studied as demonstrated by the linear increase in area under the concentration‐time curve (AUC_inf) with no significant change in the systemic clearance (Cl_s), volume of distribution (V_ss) and elimination half‐life (t_1/2) as a function of dose. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.