Detection of the presence of soya protein in milk powder by sodium dodecyl sulfate capillary electrophoresis

Two different commercial kits for sodium dodecyl sulfate capillary electrophoresis (SDS-CE) were evaluated for the detection of the presence of soya protein in milk powder. The results obtained showed that SDS-CE allowed the separation of the basic subunits of glycinin and the alpha and alpha' subunits of beta-conglycinin from the main milk protein peaks. However, a detection limit lower than 10% (w/w) of soya protein in total protein could not be achieved. The use of a tetraborate-EDTA sample treatment minimized interferences from milk proteins, allowing the detection of at least 1% (w/w) of soya protein in total protein. The addition of soya protein hydrolysates could not be determined using SDS-CE.     

Determination of total phosphorus in soya food samples by capillary isotachophoresis (cITP)

Capillary isotachophoresis (cITP) was applied for the determination of total phosphorus in soya food. The leading electrolyte was 8 mM HCl adjusted with β-alanine to pH=3.55 plus 3 mM bis-tris-propane and 0.2% hydroxyethylcellulose, whereas the terminating electrolyte 5 mM citric acid. Obtained results were compared with the spectrophotometric method. The correlation coefficients were 0.9996 for cITP and 0.9986 for standard method indicating the satisfactory precision of the calibration curves. The separation of anions was achieved within 25 min. Accuracy was determined using standard reference material (non-fat milk powder) and recovery assay based on standard additions method. Obtained results were discussed in respect to the accuracy and statistical parameters. Satisfactory values of recovery ranged between 99.22 and 99.85%, whereas R.S.D.<1% what demonstrate the advantage of cITP method in the routine analyses of phosphorus content in food samples.     

Method validation for the analysis of 169 pesticides in soya grain, without clean up, by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using positive and negative electrospray ionization

Part of a comprehensive study on the comparison of different extraction methods, GC-MS(/MS) and LC-MS/MS detection methods and modes, for the analysis of soya samples is described in this paper. The validation of an acetone-based extraction method for analysis of 169 pesticides in soya, using LC-MS/MS positive and negative electrospray ionisation (ESI) mode, is reported. Samples (5 g) were soaked with 10 g water and subsequently extracted with 100 mL of a mixture of acetone, dichloromethane and light petroleum (1:1:1), in the presence of 15 g anhydrous sodium sulphate. After centrifugation, aliquots of the extract were evaporated and reconstituted in 1.0 mL of methanol, before direct injection of the final extract (corresponding with 0.05 g soya mL(-1)) into the LC-MS/MS system. Linearity, r(2) of calibration curves, instrument limit of detection/quantitation (LOD/LOQ) and matrix effect were evaluated, based on seven concentrations measured in 6-fold. Good linearity (at least r(2)> or =0.99) of the calibration curves was obtained over the range from 0.1 or 0.25 to 10.0 ng mL(-1), corresponding with pesticide concentrations in soya bean extract of 2 or 5-200 microg kg(-1). Instrument LOD values generally were 0.1 or 0.25 ng mL(-1). Matrix effects were negligible for approximately 90% of the pesticides. The accuracy, precision and method LOQ were determined via recovery experiments, spiking soya at 10, 50, 100 microg kg(-1), six replicates per level. In both ESI modes, method LOQ values were mostly 10 or 50 microg kg(-1) and more than 70% of pesticides analysed by each mode met the acceptability criteria of recovery (70-120%) and RSD (< or =20%), at one or more of the three levels studied. A fast, easy and efficient method with acceptable performance was achieved for a difficult matrix as soya, without cleanup.     

Determination of hydrastine and berberine in goldenseal raw materials, extracts, and dietary supplements by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV: collaborative study

A multilaboratory collaborative study was conducted on a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method utilizing UV detection, previously validated using AOAC single-laboratory validation guidelines for determination of hydrastine and berberine in goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) raw materials, extracts, and dietary supplements at levels ranging from 0.4 to 6% (w/w). Nine collaborating laboratories determined the hydrastine and berberine content in 8 blind samples. Sample materials included powdered botanical raw materials, whole root material, and 4 finished product dietary supplements containing either goldenseal powdered root material or extract. The materials were extracted with an acidified water and acetonitrile solution. HPLC analyses of the extracts were performed on a C18 column using UV detection at 230 nm. Results for powdered root material and capsule products ranged from about 0.2% (w/w) for each alkaloid to about 4% (w/w) for each alkaloid. Liquid tincture results were approximately 4000-5000 microg/mL for each alkaloid. Reproducibility relative standard deviations (RSDR) for hydrastine ranged from 2.68 to 6.65%, with HorRat values ranging from 0.77 to 1.89. RSDR for berberine ranged from 5.66 to 7.68%, with HorRat values ranging from 1.32 to 2.12. All finished products containing goldenseal extract yielded HorRat values <2.0. Based on these results, the method is recommended for Official First Action for determination of hydrastine and berberine in goldenseal raw materials and dietary supplement finished products containing powdered goldenseal and goldenseal extract.     

A study on the extraction and quantitation of total arsenic and arsenic species in seafood by HPLC-ICP-MS

Various internal standards and analytical methods were investigated using certified reference materials to evaluate the accuracy of the quantitation of the total As in seafood. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure the total arsenic. Enhancement of the total arsenic in its concentration caused by the methanol matrix was clearly observed. Selenium (mass 77) was the best internal standard, and the standard addition method combined with the use of Se as an internal standard was the best analytical method. The total arsenic was determined in bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, and swordfish by ICP-MS. The concentrations of total arsenic in the seafoods ranged from 0.74 to 6.87 mg/kg.Various extraction procedures were also investigated using reference materials to evaluate the extraction efficiency of the different arsenic species in seafood. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used in conjunction with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantitate the arsenic species in seafood. The arsenic species were extracted from tuna fish (BCR 627) with water/methanol mixtures using sonication, a microwave-assisted system, and ultrasonic processor. The major species was arsenobetaine. The total arsenic extraction efficiency ranged from 81 to 87% for water and various methanol concentrations. Chromatograms of the arsenic species extracted from the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) tuna, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, and swordfish were obtained by the optimum extraction methods and the species were quantified.     

Microwave-assisted extraction of scutellarin from Erigeron breviscapus Hand-Mazz and its determination by high-performance liquid chromatography

An efficient microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique has been developed to extract scutellarin from Erigeron breviscapus for rapid determination by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The maximum yield of scutellarin reached 1.02% in 40 min under the optimal MAE conditions with 80 °C of extraction temperature and 1:10 (w/v) of the solid/liquid ratio. The MAE showed obvious advantages in terms of short duration and high efficiency to extract scutellarin in comparison with heat-flux extraction. The mechanism of the enhanced extraction by microwave assistance was discussed by detecting particle size and specific surface area of plant materials and observing cell destruction of plant material by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the plant materials were significantly destroyed due to the cell rupture after MAE treatment. Afterward, the method validation for HPLC-UV analysis was developed. Calibration range was 0.1-100 μg mL⁻¹ for scutellarin, and correlation coefficient R was 0.9993. Limit of detection was less than 0.01 μg mL⁻¹. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of scutellarin detection ranged from 1.58% to 2.96% and from 3.32% to 4.19%, respectively. The recovery of the method for scutellarin ranged from 96.7% to 101.9%.     

Determination of retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) in fortified fluid milk by liquid chromatography: collaborative study

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed for fast and simple measurement of retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) in fortified milk. Retinyl acetate internal standard was added to a test portion of milk followed by extraction into hexane. The hexane extract was analyzed by LC using a normal-phase silica gel column equilibrated with mobile phase (conditioned hexane-isopropanol, 99.85 + 0.15, v/v) about 1 h before injections. The retinyl palmitate concentration was calculated by using a relative response factor determined with calibration standards. In the collaborative study, 11 laboratories analyzed 13 pairs of fluid milk materials in blind duplicate. Twelve of the materials were composed of skim milk (< 0.5% fat), 1% fat milk, 2% fat milk, and 1% fat chocolate milk. Each material was fortified at 3 concentrations of retinyl palmitate of approximately 581 microg/L (1000 IU/qt), 1163 microg/L (2000 IU/qt), and 2236 microg/L (4000 IU/qt). The 13th material, unfortified skim milk, served as a matrix blank. Repeatability standard deviations (RSDr) without outliers ranged from 1.5 to 5.7% and reproducibility standard deviations (RSDR) without outliers ranged from 5.0 to 22.7%. cis-Isomers co-eluted with the predominant trans-retinyl palmitate isomer and were included in the results reported by all the collaborative laboratories. Endogenous long-chain esters from milk fat were also measured with the retinyl palmitate additive. The Study Director recommends that this method for determination of retinyl palmitate in fluid milk by LC be adopted First Action.     

Analysis of furan in foods by headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry

A headspace-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry (GC-IT-MS) method is proposed for the analysis of furan in different heat-treated carbohydrate-rich food samples. The extraction efficiency of six commercially available fibres was evaluated and it was found that a 75mum carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane coating was the most suitable for the extraction of the furan. Parameters affecting the efficiency of HS-SPME procedure such as extraction temperature and time, ionic strength, headspace and aqueous volume ratio (V(h)/V(w)), desorption temperature and time, were optimized. Quality parameters were established using spiked water and food samples. Linearity ranged between 0.02 and 0.5ngg(-1) and run-to-run and day-to-day precisions for food samples were lower than 6% and 10%, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) of the method is sample dependent and ranged from 8 to 70pgg(-1), while the limit of quantification is from 30 to 250pgg(-1). Isotope dilution using furan-d(4) is proposed for furan determination providing similar results to those obtained by standard addition with internal standard (US Food and Drug Administration method). The developed HS-SPME-GC-IT-MS method was applied to the analysis of furan in different Spanish food samples from a local market, and concentrations ranging from 0.17 to 2279ngg(-1) were found.     

Identification of prenylated pterocarpans and other isoflavonoids in Rhizopus spp. elicited soya bean seedlings by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Phytoalexins from soya are mainly characterised as prenylated pterocarpans, the glyceollins. Extracts of non-soaked and soaked soya beans, as well as that of soya seedlings, grown in the presence of Rhizopus microsporus var. oryzae, were screened for the presence of prenylated flavonoids with a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based screening method. The glyceollins I-III and glyceollidins I-II, belonging to the isoflavonoid subclass of the pterocarpans, were tentatively assigned. The formation of these prenylated pterocarpans was accompanied by that of other prenylated isoflavonoids of the subclasses of the isoflavones and the coumestans. It was estimated that approx. 40% of the total isoflavonoid content in Rhizopus-challenged soya bean seedlings were prenylated pterocarpans, whereas 7% comprised prenylated isoflavones and prenylated coumestans. The site of prenylation (A-ring or B-ring) of the prenylated isoflavones was tentatively annotated using positive-ion mode MS by comparing the (1,3) A(+) retro-Diels-Alder (RDA) fragments of prenylated and non-prenylated isoflavones. Furthermore, the fragmentation pathways of the five pterocarpans in negative-ion (NI) mode were proposed, which involved the cleavage of the C-ring and/or D-ring. The absence of the ring-closed prenyl (pyran or furan) gave exclusively -H(2) O(x,y) RDA fragments, whereas its presence gave predominantly the common RDA fragments.     

气相色谱-质谱法测定热塑性弹性体中的多环芳烃

建立了一种简单、准确的测定热塑性弹性体中16种多环芳烃(PAHs)的气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)方法。考察了样品制备、萃取溶剂、萃取方法、时间以及温度对厂家制备的阳性热塑性弹性体样品中PAHs提取效率的影响,确定了萃取条件和方法。样品经甲苯超声萃取、浓缩后用环己烷溶解、二甲亚砜液液萃取净化后采用GC-MS进行分析,内标法定量。通过对不同材质阳性热塑性弹性体样品的加标回收、精密度试验等对建立的方法进行评价,16种PAHs的平均回收率为70%～117%,精密度为0.2%～10.8%。该方法适合于热塑性弹性体中PAHs的测定。     

气相色谱-负化学源质谱法测定海洋生物中的多溴联苯醚

建立了气相色谱-负化学源质谱(GC-NCI-MS) 法分析海洋贝类样品中多溴联苯醚(PBDEs) 的方法. 样品采用索氏提取、多层硅胶柱分离纯化及外标法定量, 7种BDE单体的基质加标回收率平均值为67.4%～101%, 相对标准偏差为4.0%～18%. 对采自大连的白蛤、菲蛤、牡蛎等样品进行分析, 结果表明负化学源分析方法适用于海洋贝类中PBDEs的检测.     

Mass spectrometric detection of CP4 EPSPS in genetically modified soya and maize

The potential of protein fractionation hyphenated to mass spectrometry (MS) to detect and characterize the transgenic protein present in Roundup Ready soya and maize has been investigated. Genetically modified (GM) soya and maize contain the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens CP4, which confers resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. The GM soya and maize proteomes were fractionated by gel filtration, anion-exchange chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) prior to MS. This facilitated detection of a tryptic peptide map of CP4 EPSPS by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS and nanoelectrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight (nanoESI-QTOF) MS. Subsequently, sequence information from the CP4 EPSPS tryptic peptides was obtained by nanoESI-QTOF MS/MS. The identification was accomplished in 0.9% GM soya seeds, which is the current EU threshold for food-labeling requirements.     

An accurate and precise high-performance liquid chromatography method for the rapid quantification of the novel HIV integrase inhibitor raltegravir in human blood plasma after solid phase extraction

The quantification of the HIV integrase inhibitor raltegravir in blood plasma is described using solid phase extraction (SPE) coupled with an accurate high-performance liquid chromatography assay with ultraviolet (UV) detection. The method was validated over the range of 20-10,000 ng/mL using simple sample preparation and chromatography. The SPE method was optimized to be selective and highly efficient. The buffer’s ionic strength and pH were optimized for retaining RAL and the internal standard on the column, the percentage of methanol was optimized in the cleaning step to remove unwanted plasma contaminants, and the type and amount of acid was optimized for complete elution of the compounds. This method has no interference with other potentially co-administered antiretrovirals or common drugs. Average recoveries for the extraction method were consistently high: 90% for raltegravir and 90% for the internal standard diazepam. This method was found to be accurate and precise. Within day (n = 6) and between day (n = 18) accuracies ranged from 97.5 to 104.4%. Within-day (n = 6) and between-day (n = 18) precision ranged from 1.4 to 3.8%, and from 2.4 to 7.9%, respectively. This is the first published method to use simple UV technology and reliable SPE extraction methodology for the quantification of raltegravir in human plasma. This method can be easily implemented in most bioanalytical laboratories.     

Real-time detection of genetically modified soya using Lightcycler and ABI 7700 platforms with TaqMan,Scorpion, and SYBR Green I chemistries

A comparative cross platform evaluation of real-time polymerase chain reaction detection of DNA sequences present in Roundup Ready soya was undertaken using the ABI 7700 and Roche Lightcycler detection systems in combination with 3 different detection chemistries: TaqMan, Scorpion primers, and SYBR Green I fluorescent dye. Various copy numbers of a plasmid containing the soya lectin sequence were used to determine the sensitivity and reproducibility of the different technology combinations and to examine both inter and intra machine variability. To examine the relative accuracy of each technology, the genetically modified soya content of baked products containing known amounts of Roundup Ready soya was determined by detection of lectin and the EPSPS transgene. It was determined that the combination of TaqMan detection chemistry and the ABI 7700 platform represented the best method for quantitative detection of genetically modified organisms in terms of both precision and accuracy.     

Determination of coenzyme Q10 content in raw materials and dietary supplements by high-performance liquid chromatography-UV: collaborative study

An international collaborative study was conducted of a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC)-UV method for the determination of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, ubidecarenone) in raw materials and dietary supplements. Ten collaborating laboratories determined the total CoQ10 content in 8 blind duplicate samples. Sample materials included CoQ10 raw material and 4 finished product dietary supplements representing softgels, hardshell gelatin capsules, and chewable wafers. In addition, collaborating laboratories received a negative control and negative control spiked with CoQ10 at low and high levels to determine recovery. Materials were extracted with an acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran-water mixture. Ferric chloride was added to the test solutions to ensure all CoQ10 was in the oxidized form. The HPLC analyses were performed on a C18 column using UV detection at 275 nm. Repeatability relative standard deviations (RSDr) ranged from 0.94 to 5.05%. Reproducibility relative standard deviations (RSDR) ranged from 3.08 to 17.1%, with HorRat values ranging from 1.26 to 5.17. Recoveries ranged from 74.0 to 115%. Based on these results, the method is recommended for Official First Action for determination of CoQ10 in raw materials and dietary supplement finished products containing CoQ10 at a concentration of >100 mg CoQ10/g test material.     

Determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in freshwater fishes from a river polluted by e-wastes

Analytical method using mass spectrometric techniques was applied for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in freshwater fishes. Fish samples collected from Nanyang River contaminated by the recycling electron-wastes (e-wastes) materials were prepared by using Soxhlet extraction and multiple-step column chromatographic clean-up. PBDEs were determined by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with ion trap mass spectrometry (for mono- to hepta-BDEs) and quadrupole mass spectrometry (for BDE-209). The method performance was evaluated with the recovery of ¹³C-labeled internal standards and with the analysis of certified reference biota. The obtained recoveries ranged from 75 to 125% with a relative standard deviation of lower than 10% for 16 PBDE congeners. The total PBDE (ΣPBDE) concentrations in fishes showed the following trend: grass carp < mud carp < crucian carp < silver carp < carp. ΣPBDE concentrations in the abdomen, back and tail muscles of carp ranged from 766, 458 and 530 ng/g w.w., and 53, 52, 45 ng/g w.w. in grass carp, respectively. The ΣPBDE concentrations in abdomen muscles were no significantly higher than in back and tail muscles in carp, crucian carp, grass carp and mud carp. PBDE congener concentrations in muscles correlated well with their lipid content. BDE-47 and BDE-28 were the most abundant congeners followed by BDE-17, BDE-15, BDE-66, BDE-154 and BDE-153 in fishes collected from Guiyu.     

Selective extraction of sulfonamides, macrolides and other pharmaceuticals from sewage sludge by pressurized liquid extraction

A method for the quantitative determination of three macrolides, five sulfonamides, ranitidine, omeprazole and trimethoprim in sewage sludge samples was developed by using pressurized liquid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The extraction solvent and such operational parameters as temperature, pressure, extraction time and purge time were optimized in pressurized liquid extraction. The experimental conditions were: an extraction solvent of water (pH 3):methanol (1:1, v/v), a temperature of 80 degrees C, a pressure of 1500 psi, a sample weight of 5 g, an extraction time of 5 min, one cycle, a flush volume of 60% and a purge time of 120 s. All recoveries were over 74%, except those for ranitidine whose value was 54%. The repeatability and reproducibility between days expressed as relative standard deviation (n = 3) were lower than 11% and 15%, respectively. The limit of detection values ranged from 2 to 11 microg/kg dry weight (d.w.). The method was applied to determine the pharmaceuticals in sewage sludge from two domestic sewage treatment plants. Roxithromycin and tylosin were determined in the samples and tylosin showed the highest value (4.0 mg/kg d.w.).     

Magnetic retrieval of chitosan: extraction of bioactive constituents from green tea beverage samples

A new solid-phase extraction mode for magnetic retrieval of chitosan combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection was proposed for the pre-concentration and determination of flavonoids in green tea beverage samples. In the experiment, chitosan was used as sorbents for the extraction of target analytes; after completion of the extraction process, Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles acted as carrier to retrieve chitosan from the sample solution. Some important parameters influenced extraction efficiency of flavonoids, including the extraction mode, amounts of chitosan, pH of sample solution, extraction time, salt addition, amounts of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles, desorption solvent and desroption time, were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the recoveries of analytes done on samples spiked with the target analytes were between 96.4% and 108.6%; relative standard deviations ranged from 0.6% to 8.7%. The correlation coefficients varied from 0.9917 to 0.9988. The limits of detection ranged from 5.4 to 16.8 ng mL(-1) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. All four different brands of green tea beverage samples were successfully analyzed by the proposed method.     

Rapid and sensitive analysis of vincristine in human plasma using on-line extraction combined with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid method has been developed and validated for the quantitation of vincristine in human plasma by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization using on-line solid-phase extraction. The method uses vinblastine as internal standard and the sample preparation is limited just to a plasma protein precipitation step. Further sample clean-up is carried out on-line through a perfusion column preceding an analytical phenyl LC column, the latter directly connected to the mass spectrometer. Quantitation is performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode using the transitions of m/z 825.3 --> 765.3 and 811.3 --> 751.3 for vincristine and vinblastine respectively. The assay was linear (r2 > or =0.99) in a concentration range from 0.1 to 500 ng/mL. Carry-over, measured on the experimental set-up, was less than 0.04%. Recovery for vincristine and the internal standard was within 90-95%. The intra-day and inter-day assay precision ranged from 1.2% to 6.8% RSD while mean percentage deviation from nominal value ranged from 0.01% to 6.1%. The proposed assay was found suitable for pharmacokinetics investigations and clinical therapeutic drug monitoring especially in pediatric cancer patients.     

Homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction method for spectrofluorimetric determination of chlorophyll a

A new homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction using a fluorocarbon ionic surfactant, Zonyl FSA (FSA), having a diethylthioether group as a spacer between the perfluoroalkyl group and carboxyl group has been developed. In this FSA method, the phase separation phenomena were observed at mild pH (below pH 6). Moreover, by using this extraction method as a preconcentration, a highly sensitive spectrofluorometric determination of chlorophyll a was established. The results for the standard chlorophyll a were as follows. The concentration factor (V(w)/V(o)) was 200 (water phase, V(w), 20 cm(3), water-immiscible phase, V(o), 100 mul), the distribution ratio, log D, was 4.85, the extraction percentage, E, was 99.7%, and the procedure time was approximately 30 min. The calibration curve was linear in the concentration range 2 x 10(-11)-3 x 10(-7) mol dm(-3) and the detection limit (S/N=3) was 1 x 10(-11) mol dm(-3). The relative standard deviation was 0.72% for 10(-8) mol dm(-3) (five determinations).