Particle beam liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of triphenylmethane dyes: application to confirmation of malachite green in incurred catfish tissue

Food colors: Existing and emerging food safety concerns

Food colors are added to different types of commodities to increase their visual attractiveness or to compensate for natural color variations. The use of these additives is strictly regulated in the European Union, the United States, and many other countries worldwide. There is a growing concern about the safety of some commonly used legal food colorants and there is a trend to replace the synthetic forms with natural products. Additionally, a number of dyes with known or suspected genotoxic or carcinogenic properties have been shown to be added illegally to foods. Robust monitoring programs based on reliable detection methods are required to assure the food is free from harmful colors. The aim of this review is to present an up to date status of the various concerns arising from use of color additives in food. The most important food safety concerns in the field of food colors are lack of uniform regulation concerning legal food colors worldwide, possible link of artificial colors to hyperactive behavior, replacement of synthetic colors with natural ones, and the presence of harmful illegal dyes-both known but also new, emerging ones in food. The legal status of food color additives in the EU, United States, and worldwide is summarized. The reported negative health effects of both legal and illegal colors are presented. The European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed notifications and US import alerts concerning food colors are analyzed and trends in fraudulent use of color additives identified. The detection methods for synthetic colors are also reviewed.

Partial degradation mechanisms of malachite green and methyl violet B by Shewanella decolorationis NTOU1 under anaerobic conditions

This work demonstrated that Shewanella decolorationis NTOU1 decolorized 200 mg l(-1) of crystal violet, malachite green, or methyl violet B within 2-11h under anaerobic conditions at 35 degrees C. The initial color removal rate of malachite green was highest, while that of methyl violet was lowest. GC/MS analyses of the intermediate compounds produced during and after decolorization of malachite green and methyl violet B suggested that biodegradation of these dyes involved reduction to leuco form, N-demethylation, and reductive splitting of the triphenyl rings. The number of N-methylated groups of these dyes might have influenced decolorization rates and the reductive splitting of the triphenyl rings of these dyes. Cytotoxicity and antimicrobial test data showed that malachite green and methyl violet B solution (100 mg l(-1)) were toxic. Toxicity of the dyes decreased after their decolorization, but further incubation resulted in increased toxicity.

A confirmatory analysis of malachite green residues in rainbow trout with liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

A quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method has been developed for the determination of malachite green (MG) and its metabolite leucomalachite green (LMG) in fish. Residues were extracted with an acetonitrile-acetate buffer and purified using the automated solid-phase extraction (ASPEC). Residues were analyzed with a reversed-phase LC-MS/MS using a positive-ion electrospray ionisation (ESI). Isotope-labelled leucomalachite green (LMG-D5) was used as an internal standard for the quantification of LMG residues. The related dye, brilliant green (BG) was used as an instrumental standard. Identification and quantification of analytes were based on the ion transitions monitored by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The decision limit (CCalpha) for MG and LMG was 0.13 and 0.16 microgkg(-1). The respective detection capabilities (CCbeta) were 0.22 and 0.27 microgkg(-1). The absolute recovery (repeatability SD(r)) was in the range of 58-65% (7.8-11.2%) for MG and 59-68% (9.7-16.9%) for LMG. LMG was quantified also based on the internal standard, giving a recovery (repeatability SD(r)) of 103-110% (4.8-9.3%). The method was further evaluated by analyzing a total of 34 fish residue monitoring samples, of which eight samples were found to be non-compliant containing low residues of LMG.

Cost-Effective Flow Cell for the Determination of Malachite Green and Leucomalachite Green at a Boron-Doped Diamond Thin-Film Electrode

An electrooxidation and a cost-effective flow-based analysis of malachite green (MG) and leucomalachite green (LMG) were investigated at a boron-doped diamond thin-film (BDD) electrode. Cyclic voltammetry as a function of the pH of the supporting electrolyte solution was studied. Comparison experiments were performed with a glassy carbon electrode. A well-defined cyclic voltammogram, providing the highest peak current, was obtained when using phosphate buffer at pH 2. The potential sweep-rate dependence of MG and LMG oxidation (peak currents for 1 mM MG and LMG linearly proportional to v 1/2, within the range of 0.01 to 0.3 V/s) indicates that the oxidation current is a diffusion-controlled process on the BDD surface. In addition, hydrodynamic voltammetry and amperometric detection using the BDD electrode combined with a flow injection analysis system was also studied. A homemade flow cell was used, and the results were compared with a commercial flow cell. A detection potential of 0.85 V was selected when using a commercial flow cell, at which MG and LMG exhibited the highest signal-to-background ratios. For the homemade flow cell, a detection potential of 1.1 V was chosen because MG and LMG exhibited a steady response. The flow analysis results showed linear concentration ranges of 1-100 microM and 4-80 microM for MG and LMG, respectively. The detection limit for both compounds was 50 nM.

Determination of malachite green and leucomalachite green in carp muscle by liquid chromatography with visible and fluorescence detection

A liquid chromatography-VIS/FLD method for the analysis of malachite green (MG) and its major metabolite, leucomalachite green (LMG) in carp muscle has been described. The method consists in an extraction with acetonitrile-buffer mixture followed by partioning with dichloromethane. Clean up and isolation were performed on SCX solid phase extraction (SPE) column. Chromatographic separation was achieved by using phenyl-hexyl column with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and acetate buffer (0.05 M, pH 4.5) (60:40, v/v). Liquid chromatography with absorbance detector (lambda = 620 nm) was used for the determination of MG while LMG was detected by fluorescence detector (lambda(ex) = 265 nm and lambda(em) = 360 nm). The both detectors were connected on-line which allowed direct analysis of a sample extract for MG and LMG without the need for any post-column procedure. The whole method has been validated, according to the EU requirements (Commission Decision 2002/657/EC). Specificity, stability, decision limit (CCalpha), detection capability (CCbeta), accuracy and precision were determined. Average recoveries of MG and LMG from muscle fortified at three levels (0.5, 1 and 2 microg/kg) were 62% (range from 60.4 to 63.5%) and 90% (range from 89.0 to 91.5%), respectively. Relative standard deviations (RSD) of recoveries at all fortification levels were less than 10.9 and 8.6% for MG and LMG, respectively. The calculated CCalpha for MG and LMG were 0.15 and 0.13 microg/kg, and CCbeta were 0.37 and 0.32 microg/kg, complying with the minimum required performance limit (MRPL) of 2 microg/kg (sum of MG and LMG).

Determination of malachite green residues in rainbow trout muscle with liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

A method for the determination of malachite green and its major metabolite leucomalachite green in rainbow trout muscle is reported with limits of detection of 0.8 and 0.6 microg kg(-1), respectively. Residues were extracted with an acetonitrile-acetate buffer mixture and partitioned into methylene chloride. Clean-up of the extracts was performed on alumina and propylsulfonic acid solid-phase extraction columns using the automated solid-phase extraction system. The chromatographic separation of malachite green and leucomalachite green was achieved on a Chromspher 5B column using an acetonitrile-acetate buffer mobile phase. Leucomalachite green was converted to malachite green by post-column oxidation before spectrophotometric detection at 600 nm. The mean recoveries of malachite green and leucomalachite green from control rainbow trout muscle spiked at 2-50 microg kg(-1) were 65% (range 63.4-65.9%, relative standard deviation 3.9-16.1%) and 74% (range 58.3-82.6%, relative standard deviation 3.3-11.4%), respectively. Qualitative confirmation of the determined residues was performed with liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry detection with limits of detection of 2.5 and 1 microg kg(-1) for malachite green and leucomalachite green, respectively.

Determination of residues of malachite green in aquatic animals

Residues of malachite green (MG) were extracted from homogenized animal tissues with a mixture of McIlvaine buffer (pH 3.0)-acetonitrile, and purified over an aromatic sulfonic acid solid-phase extraction column followed by HPLC or LC-ESI-MS-MS analysis. Ascorbic acid and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride were added to reduce de-methylation of the dye. Responses were recorded at 620 nm (HPLC) or by multiple-reaction-monitoring (LC-MS-MS) after post-column oxidation using PbO(2). MG and its primary metabolite leuco-malachite green (LMG) were successfully determined at 2.5-2000 microg/kg in catfish, eel, rainbow trout, salmon, tropical prawns and turbot, with a limit of detection at 1 microg/kg (HPLC) and 0.2 microg/kg (LC-MS-MS) for both MG and LMG. Recoveries for LMG were between 86+/-15% (prawn) and 105+/-14% (eel). Freeze-thawing cycles, and storage at 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C affected the recovery of both MG and LMG. Analyses of eel, trout and (processed) salmon field samples collected at local retailers, fish-market and -shops demonstrated trace levels of MG-residues.

Synthesis and characterization of N-demethylated metabolites of malachite green and leucomalachite green

Malachite green (MG), a triphenylmethane dye used to treat fungal and protozoan infections in fish, undergoes sequential oxidation to produce various N-demethylated derivatives (monodes-, dides(sym)-, dides(unsym)-, trides-, and tetrades-) both before and after reduction to leucomalachite green (LMG). The close structure resemblance of the metabolites with aromatic amine carcinogens implicates a potential genotoxicity from exposure to MG. The availability of the synthetic standards is important for metabolic and DNA adduct studies of MG. This paper describes a simple and versatile method for the synthesis of MG, LMG, and their N-demethylated metabolites. The synthesis involves a coupling of 4-(dimethylamino)benzophenone or 4-nitrobenzophenone with the aryllithium reagents derived from appropriately substituted 4-bromoaniline derivatives, followed by treatment with HCl in methanol. The resulting cationic MG and their leuco analogues showed systematic UV/vis spectral and tandem mass fragmentation patterns consistent with sequential N-demethylation. The extensive (1)H and (13)C spectral assignments of the metabolites were aided by the availability of (13)C(7)-labeled MG and LMG. The results indicate the existence of a resonance structure with the cationic charge located in the central methane carbon (C(7)). The synthetic procedure is general in scope so that it can be extended to the preparation of N-demethylated metabolites of other structurally related N-methylated triphenylmethane dyes.

Surface-assisted reduction of aniline oligomers, N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediimine and thionin in atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and atmospheric pressure photoionization

Reduction of the oligomers formed from on-line electropolymerization of aniline, the compound N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediimine, and the thiazine dye thionin was observed in both an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and an atmospheric pressure photoionization source. The reduction, which alters the mass of these analytes by 2 Da, was shown to occur by means of a surface-assisted process which involves reactive species, possibly hydrogen radicals, generated from protic solvents in the ionization plasma. Reduction was minimized by limiting protic solvents, by using a high heated nebulizer temperature, and by using a clean, heated nebulizer probe liner. The expected generality of this reduction process, and the possibility of similar reduction processes in other plasma ionization sources are discussed in relation to the use of these ion sources for on-line electrochemistry/mass spectrometry experiments.

Oxidative coupling-type mechanism of N,N-dialkylanilines in solvent-free conditions forming crystal violet derivatives. A clay-mediated and microwave-promoted approach

In the clay-mediated reaction of N,N-disubstituted anilines using microwave radiation as an energy source in the absence of solvent, crystal violet and derivatives, diphenylmethanes, and biphenyls were isolated along with intermediates supporting an oxidative coupling-type mechanism.Key words: clay, dyes, microwave radiation, solvent-free reactions.

Confirmation of malachite green, gentian violet and their leuco analogs in catfish and trout tissue by high-performance liquid chromatography utilizing electrochemistry with ultraviolet-visible diode array detection and fluorescence detection

A sensitive analytical procedure for the confirmation of residues of malachite green (MG), gentian violet (GV) and their leuco analogs (LMG and LGV) in catfish and trout tissue at 10 ng/g is described. Frozen (-20 degrees C) fish fillets were cut into small pieces and homogenized in Waring blendors. The compounds of interest were extracted from 20-g amounts of homogenized fish tissue with acetonitrile-buffer, partitioned against methylene chloride, and isolated with tandem neutral alumina and propylsulfonic acid cation-exchange solid-phase extraction cartridges. Samples of 100 microl (0.8 g equiv.) were chromatographed isocratically in 10 min using an acetonitrile-buffer mobile phase on a short-chain deactivated (SCD) reversed-phase column (150x4.6 mm I.D.) in-line with a post-column oxidation coulometric electrochemical cell (EC), a UV-Vis diode array detector and a fluorescence detector.

Reduction of malachite green to leucomalachite green by intestinal bacteria

Intestinal microfloras from human, rat, mouse, and monkey fecal samples and 14 pure cultures of anaerobic bacteria representative of those found in the human gastrointestinal tract metabolized the triphenylmethane dye malachite green to leucomalachite green. The reduction of malachite green to the leuco derivative suggests that intestinal microflora could play an important role in the metabolic activation of the triphenylmethane dye to a potential carcinogen.