Selective fluorimetric method for the determination of histamine in seafood samples based on the concept of zone fluidics

Development and validation of a rapid and simple HILIC-MS/MS method for the determination of biogenic amines in tuna fish

The production of biogenic amines (BAs), which are markers of both quality and safety in fish and fishery products, is influenced by the harvesting technique, handling, and other operations including those carried out on board the vessel. Scombroid dark-meat fish (e.g. tuna) are the fish species most frequently linked to histamine poisoning. The most commonly found BAs in fish are histamine, tyramine, putrescine, and cadaverine, which are produced when microbes decarboxylate the corresponding free amino acids. In this study, a rapid and cost-effective HILIC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of putrescine, cadaverine, histamine and tyramine in tuna samples. A simple sample preparation procedure was followed using the solvent mixture MeOH/H2O (50/50, v/v), 0.1 % acetic acid for protein precipitation and analyte extraction. Intra- and inter-day accuracy, expressed as %Recovery (%R), ranged from 88.0 % (Cad) to 102.7 % (Tyr) and from 85.0 % (Cad) to 99.8 % (Tyr), respectively. Intra- and inter-day precision, expressed as %Relative Standard Deviation (%RSD), ranged from 0.4 % (Tyr, Put) to 3.3 % (His) and from 0.7 % (Tyr) to 5.0 % (Cad), respectively. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) varied from 0.0009 to 0.0940 mg/kg and from 0.0030 mg/kg to 0.3100 mg/kg, respectively, depending on the analyte. Regarding the potential toxic effects linked to biogenic amines in foods, samples examined in this study showed no risk. The proposed method is an important analytical tool for routine analysis of BAs in fish products.

Naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde as a pulsed-post column derivatization reagent; comparison with two alternative o-phthalaldehyde based chemistries for the determination of histamine

In the present study, naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA) was used in on-line post column derivatization (PCD) coupled to liquid chromatography under the new concept of Pulsed-PCD. In Pulsed-PCD, the reagents are introduced into the flowing stream of the mobile phase under precise timing overlapping the eluted analyte. The consumption of the reagents is minimized to a few microliters, resulting in a significant advantage, that is the use of expensive reagents in PCD. For this reason, NDA-CN chemistry was used for the determination of histamine in food samples, such as eggplant and spinach. Two additional methods were developed based on the reaction of histamine with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA), namely the classic OPA - nucleophilic compound reaction and the specific OPA - histamine reaction in alkaline medium. The chromatographic conditions and the Pulsed-PCD conditions were investigated, while the analytical figures of merit were satisfactory. In all three methods, a pulse of 50 μL was used (OPA/NDA + Buffer), reducing dramatically the consumption of PCD reagents.

Development of an equipment free paper based fluorimetric method for the selective determination of histidine in human urine samples

A direct fluorimetric method, employing μicro-analytical paper-based devices (μ-PADs) for the selective determination of histidine (HIS) is described. The suggested method exploits the fluorescence emission of histidine after its rapid reaction with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) at a basic medium (pH = 10) on the surface of a paper device with the application of a UV lamp at 354 nm. The devices are inexpensive and are composed of chromatographic paper and wax barriers. The analytical protocol is easily applicable with minimal technical expertise and without the need of expensive experimental apparatus. The user has to add a test sample, illuminate the device with a UV lamp, and read the fluorescence of the sensing area using a simple imaging device such as a cell-phone camera. The method is free from common interferences likely to affect the measurement of histidine and is selective among all other amino acids. This analytical procedure was optimized and validated, paying special attention to its intended application. The detection limits are as low as 1.8 μM with very satisfactory precision ranging from 6.4% (intra-day) to 8.9% (inter-day). Random urine samples from adult volunteers (n = 5) were successfully analyzed and HIS content ranged between 260 and 1114 μmol L^-1 with percentage recoveries in the range of 78.2 and 124.6%.

Histamine Control in Raw and Processed Tuna: A Rapid Tool Based on NIR Spectroscopy

The present study was designed to investigate whether near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy with minimal sample processing could be a suitable technique to rapidly measure histamine levels in raw and processed tuna fish. Calibration models based on orthogonal partial least square regression (OPLSR) were built to predict histamine in the range 10–1000 mg kg⁻¹ using the 1000–2500 nm NIR spectra of artificially-contaminated fish. The two models were then validated using a new set of naturally contaminated samples in which histamine content was determined by conventional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. As for calibration results, coefficient of determination (r²) > 0.98, root mean square of estimation (RMSEE) ≤ 5 mg kg⁻¹ and root mean square of cross-validation (RMSECV) ≤ 6 mg kg⁻¹ were achieved. Both models were optimal also in the validation stage, showing r² values > 0.97, root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) ≤ 10 mg kg⁻¹ and relative range error (RER) ≥ 25, with better results showed by the model for processed fish. The promising results achieved suggest NIR spectroscopy as an implemental analytical solution in fish industries and markets to effectively determine histamine amounts.

Determination of histidine in human serum and urine by cation exchange chromatography coupled to selective on-line post column derivatization

A reliable and highly selective method for the determination of histidine in human serum and urine is described. Histidine was separated from the matrix by cation exchange chromatography and detected selectively using on-line post column derivatization and fluorimetric detection. Unique reaction of histidine with o-phthalaldehyde in the absence of nucleophilic compounds offered specific detection in the complex biological substrate. Linearity was obeyed in the range of 0.5 - 25 μmol L-1 with a limit of detection of 0.160 μmol L-1. The absence of matrix effect (<5%) enabled the processing of real samples after minimal pretreatment. Endogenous histidine has been determined in human serum in the range of 78 - 119 μmol L-1 and random human urine in the range of 266 - 2034 μmol L-1. The percent recoveries were satisfactory in all cases, ranging between 89 and 114%.

Selective post-column derivatization coupled to cation exchange chromatography for the determination of histamine and its precursor histidine in fish and Oriental sauce samples

Histamine is a biogenic amine that is formed from histidine by action of the enzyme histidine decarboxylase and can be toxic at high intakes. Thus, the quantification of these analytes in foods constitutes a significant axis of food safety. In this study we present the development, validation and application of a new method for the determination of histamine and its precursor histidine in fish products and oriental sauces. The analytes were separated rapidly through a cation exchange column using an acidic mobile phase (7 mmol L^-1 nitric acid) and reacted downstream with o-phthalaldehyde in post-column mode in the absence of nucleophilic reagents. The derivatives were detected spectrofluorimetrically at λ_ex/λ_em. = 360/440 nm. Following investigation of the chromatographic and post-column conditions, the method was validated as for its intended applications. The limits of detection were 0.16 and 0.17 μmol L^-1 for histidine and histamine respectively (ca. 0.1 mg kg^-1) and the precision was better than 5%. Various food samples were successfully analyzed without matrix interferences following minimal pretreatment. The percent recoveries ranged between 91.3 and 117.9%.

Fluorimetric Method for the Determination of Histidine in Random Human Urine Based on Zone Fluidics

In the present study, the determination of histidine (HIS) by an on-line flow method based on the concept of zone fluidics is reported. HIS reacts fast with o-phthalaldehyde at a mildly basic medium (pH 7.5) and in the absence of additional nucleophilic compounds to yield a highly fluorescent derivative (λ_ex/λ_em = 360/440 nm). The flow procedure was optimized and validated, paying special attention to its selectivity and sensitivity. The LOD was 31 nmol·L⁻¹, while the within-day and day-to-day precisions were better than 1.0% and 5.0%, respectively (n = 6). Random urine samples from adult volunteers (n = 7) were successfully analyzed without matrix effect (<1%). Endogenous HIS content ranged between 116 and 1527 μmol·L⁻¹ with percentage recoveries in the range of 87.6%–95.4%.