Selective analysis of histamine in food by means of solid-phase extraction cleanup and chromatographic separation

Microwave-Assisted Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Combined with HPLC for the Determination of Three Biogenic Amines in Beverages

Microwave-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (MADLLME) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detector was used for the extraction and determination of three biogenic amines (BAs), including tryptamine, histamine and phenylethylamine in beverages (beer, cherry juice and white spirit). Compared with solid-phase extraction, solid-phase microextraction and liquid-phase microextraction, which is more solvent use with lower extraction efficiency, this MADLLME method obviously shortened analytical time, the rapid heating of aqueous samples with non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, a lower solvent use and enhanced extraction efficiency. Because of good extraction for three BAs, [3C6PC14][FeCl4] was used as an extraction solvent. We showed a tunable selectivity of magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) toward extracting BAs by changing anion or cation due to the modification of the interaction between the MIL and the BAs. Extraction conditions including the type and volume of extraction solvent, microwave power, microwave-assisted extraction time, sample pH, disperser and interference experiment were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, a good linear relationship was found in the concentration range of 100-2,000 ng mL-1 for three BAs with correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.995-0.999. The limit of detections (S/N = 3) and limit of quantitations (S/N = 10) were in the range of 3.46-4.96 ng mL-1 and 10.44-14.88 ng mL-1, respectively. The recoveries of three targets were in the range of 84.3-108.5%, and the relative standard deviations based on the peak areas for six replicate analyses of beverages spiked with 10, 50 and 100 ng mL-1 of each biogenic amine were lower than 7.9%. This method has also been successfully applied to analyze the real samples at three different spiked concentrations, and excellent results have been obtained.

Quality evaluation of living and postmortem Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis)

Total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN), biogenic amine, total viable count (TVC), volatile compounds, and sensory evaluation were conducted to assess the quality of Chinese Mitten Crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) at living, zero, 2, 5, 10, 15, and 24 hr postmortem. The sensory evaluation found a noticeable odor of spoilage becoming evident 10 hr postmortem. The TVBN value increased and then decreased as time increased, reaching 23.67 mg N/100 g at 24 hr postmortem. Although biogenic amines were detected at 5 hr postmortem, by 24 hr postmortem these had not reached dangerous levels of toxicity. The initial TVC (6.06 Log CFU/g) of the living crab samples was relatively high and climbed further postmortem, reaching 10.00 Log CFU/g 24 hr postmortem. Trimethylamine was detected in the living sample in belly meat and 2 hr postmortem in crab roe and reached 8.33 µg/g in the roe 24 hr postmortem. Indole was detected at 0 hr (belly meat) and 10 hr (crab roe) postmortem, but did not change significantly during the observation period. Sulfur-containing compounds were detected 5 hr after death and gradually increased over the observation period. Most indicators showed major changes at 5 hr and 10 hr postmortem. By 10 hr postmortem, the crab had entered the putrefaction stage and was thus no longer safe for consumption.

Characterisation of Biogenic Amines in Fish Collected from Sarawak Using Gas Chromatography

Determination of five biogenic amines (heptylamine, histamine, tyramine, cadaverine and spermidine) in fish was optimised and validated using gas chromatography – flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) followed by confirmation using mass spectrometry (MS). The biogenic amines were derivatised using BSA (N, O-bis (trimethylsilyl) acetamide) + TMCS (trimethylchlorosilane) as a derivatisation agent. The linear working range was between 0.9995 – 0.9999. The limit of detection (LODs) were in the range of 1.20 – 2.90 μg/mL. The efficiency of recovery for every biogenic amines, which ranged between 98.41 – 116.39%, indicated that analytical procedure can be used to extract biogenic amines in fish. Using GC-FID, the concentration of five biogenic amines were simultaneously determined in fresh and salted fish samples such as mackerel (Scomberomorus guttatus), sardine (Sardinella gibbosa), whiptail (Himantura walga), gourami (Trichogaster pectoralis) and toli shad (Tenualosa toli). Histamine is found in fresh mackerel (S. guttatus) and sardine (S. gibbosa) at concentration of 5.96 and 2.69 mg/kg, respectively. Salted sardine (S. gibbosa) has histamine concentration of 8.95 mg/kg. All histamine concentrations detected were below 50 mg/kg (FDA regulation) which is below the permissible threshold associated with scombroid poisoning. Cadaverine was detected in fresh sardine (S. gibbosa), whiptail stingray (H. walga) and salted gourami (T. pectoralis) with concentration of 4.96, 146.39 and 18.80 mg/kg, respectively. None of them has biogenic amines, and histamine within FDA regulation levels (below 50 mg/kg).

Improved HPLC Method Using 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde as Fluorescent Labeling Agent for Quantification of Histamine in Human Immunoglobulin Preparations

Objectives

To develop and optimize quantitative HPLC method using 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde (NDA) after simple and efficient solid phase extraction to determine the histamine in a biopharmaceutical (Histobulin™).

Methods

The HPLC method was established using NDA-induced Histobulin and compared with the recently reported HPLC method using o-phthaldehyde (OPA). The validated NDA-applied HPLC method was adjusted to 15 lots of Histobulin and compared by the current lot-release-test method using fluorimetry in recovery of histamine and reproducibility.

Results

Analyses of six HPLC chromatograms using NDA and OPA each were compared. NDA produced a more stable chromatogram baseline than OPA, and showed better stability. The HPLC analysis was validated in accuracy (91–103%), precision (interday/intraday assay CV ≤2.30%), and linearity of dose–response curve (R² ≥ 0.9919). The detection limit was 0.0076 μg/mL and the quantitative limit was 0.0229 μg/mL. The amount of histamine per 12 mg of immunoglobulin was determined to be 0.17 ± 0.016 μg by the HPLC and 0.025 ± 0.013 μg by the current lot-release-test method using fluorimetry.

Conclusion

NDA derivatization showed better stability compared with the OPA method. Therefore the newly established NDA-derivatizated HPLC method may be more suitable than the fluorimetric method in lot-release-tests of biopharmaceuticals.

[Determination of histamine in fish and fish products by tandem solid-phase extraction]

A simple and practical method was developed for the determination of histamine in fish and fish products by solid-phase extraction and fluorescence derivatization. Histamine was extracted with trichloroacetic acid. The extract was neutralized and diluted with phosphate buffer (pH 6.8), and cleaned up with a tandem-connected octadecyl silica (ODS) and strong cation exchange silica (SCX) cartridge. After removal of the solvent, histamine was derivatized with fluorescamine and analyzed by ion-paired reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Recovery tests of histamine from six kinds of fish and fish products showed acceptable recovery (83-92%) with low relative standard deviation (less than 5%). This method could be useful for determination of histamine in fish.

Biogenic amine contents in selected Egyptian fermented foods as determined by ion-exchange chromatography

Biogenic amines in foods may pose a public health problem. Therefore, histamine, tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine, spermine, and spermidine concentrations were measured in selected food items commonly consumed in Egypt. Foods examined were dairy products (blue cheese and Mesh cheese), meats (fermented and smoked cooked sausage), and fish (smoked and salted fermented fish [Feseekh], salted sardines, and anchovies). Egyptian fermented sausage had the highest concentration of total biogenic amines (2,482 mg/kg), followed by Mesh cheese (2,118 mg/kg) and blue cheese (2,084 mg/kg). The lowest concentration was found in smoked cooked sausage (111 mg/kg). Histamine was found at a high level (521 mg/kg) in Feseekh, and tyramine was highest (2,010 mg/kg) in blue cheese. These results indicate that some traditional Egyptian foods may pose a health risk due to the concentration of biogenic amines, especially histamine.

Determination of biogenic amines in Korean traditional fermented soybean paste (Doenjang)

Biogenic amines, produced by bacterial decarboxylation of amino acids, have been associated with toxicological symptoms in food products. Twenty-three samples of traditionally available Korean fermented soybean paste samples (Doenjang) were analyzed in order to determine the content of biogenic amines. Amines were extracted with 0.4M perchloric acid and derivatized with dansyl chloride. Nine biogenic amines were separated from Doenjang samples by high performance liquid chromatography using gradient elution (acetonitrile and ammonium acetate), and detected with spectrophotometric UV-vis detection at 254 nm. The pH value of all the samples was ranged from 4.8 to 6.0, and the strong amino acid decarboxylase activity was found to be in an acidic environment. The mean values of biogenic amines (tryptamine, 2-phenyl-ethylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, agmatine, histamine, tyramine, spermidine and spermine) determined in 23 Doenjang samples were found to be 18.37, 82.03, 70.84, 34.24, 47.32, 26.79, 126.66, 74.41 and 244.36 mg%, respectively. The findings of this study enhance the safety of not only Doenjang but other salted and/or fermented food products.

Micro-magnetic particles frit for capillary electrochromatography

This paper presents a new method for making frit using soft-ferrite-based micro-magnetic particles (MMPs) in a micro-space, such as in a capillary tube. The MMPs-frit was made by injecting an aliquot of 10 microm (outer diameter; o.d.)-MMPs-suspension in methanol (ca. 1mg/ml) into a capillary tube (75 microm inner diameter (i.d.) x 375 microm o.d. x ca. 35 cm length) that was already sandwiched between a pair of cylindrical Neodium (Nd-Fe-B) magnets (1.5 mm o.d. x 1.5 mm height, 280 mT) at a position where the frit was made. The MMPs were trapped in the capillary tube as a frit due to the attraction of the magnets placed at surface on the capillary tube. With regard to durability, the frit was stable for methanol flow with a flow rate of 400 microl/min at room temperature. Using such a frit, a capillary column (20 cm long) was prepared by injecting a 5 microm (o.d.)-ODS-particle suspension in methanol (ca. 0.4 mg/microl) into the capillary tube. The MMPs-frits-ODS-packed column was stable for methanol for a flow pressure less than 20MPa. When comparing the present column with a conventional sintered-frits-ODS-packed column for the purposes of separating five kinds of biogenic amines by means of an on-column derivatization capillary electrochromatography (CEC), the performance of the MMPs-frits capillary column was almost equivalent to that of the sintered-frits-ODS-packed column.