Analytical methods to detect adulteration of argan oil: A critical review

The Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Dasineura Oleae Show Differences Between Sex, Adult Age and Mating Status

In insects, cuticular lipids prevent water loss and act as semiochemicals. Because of their ecological function, the profile change across the insects' sex and development offers insight into insect biology and possible tools for pest management. Here, the first work on cecidomyiid cuticular extracts is proposed considering Dasineura oleae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) males and females at different adult ages (0-12 h, 12-24 h, 24-36 h) and distinct sexual conditions (virgin and mated). A set of 49 compounds were recorded (12 alkanes, 1 monomethyl alkane, 11 fatty acids, 4 esters, 1 aldehyde, 1 allylbenzene, 1 amine, 1 flavonoid, 1 ketone, 1 phenol, 1 steradiene, 1 sterol, 1 terpene, 1 triterpene and 11 unknown compounds), and 18 of them showed significant differences between groups. Among alkanes, hexacosane (nC26) exhibited a decreasing trend from the youngest to the oldest females, while pentacosane (nC25) and nonacosane (nC29) showed a decreasing trend from 0 to 12 h to 12-24 h virgin females. In addition, nonadecane (nC19) was significantly more abundant in the youngest males compared to older males and females. The alkanes nC25, nC26 and nC29 have been reported to be age-related also in other dipterans, while nC19 has been described as gender-specific chemical cue for platygastrid parasitoids. Further behavioural trials and analyses are required to assign the specific ecological roles to the characterized compounds. Our results may contribute to develop new low-impact control strategies relying on the manipulation of D. oleae's chemical communication (e.g. disruption of mating or species recognition). HIGHLIGHTS: • Cuticular hydrocarbons are often involved in dipteran intraspecific communication. • We explored the cuticular profile of D. oleae at different age, sex, mating condition. • Five alkanes and one mono-methyl alkane showed differences among groups. • Linoleic acid is the most abundant compound in virgins, absent in mated insects. • Eleven compounds disappear in mated insects, but were present in all virgins.

Authentication of Argan (Argania spinosa L.) Oil Using Novel DNA-Based Approaches: Detection of Olive and Soybean Oils as Potential Adulterants

Argan oil is a traditional product obtained from the fruits of the argan tree (Argania spinosa L.), which is endemic only to Morocco. It is commercialized worldwide as cosmetic and food-grade argan oil, attaining very high prices in the international market. Therefore, argan oil is very prone to adulteration with cheaper vegetable oils. The present work aims at developing novel real-time PCR approaches to detect olive and soybean oils as potential adulterants, as well as ascertain the presence of argan oil. The ITS region, matK and lectin genes were the targeted markers, allowing to detect argan, olive and soybean DNA down to 0.01 pg, 0.1 pg and 3.2 pg, respectively, with real-time PCR. Moreover, to propose practical quantitative methods, two calibrant models were developed using the normalized ΔCq method to estimate potential adulterations of argan oil with olive or soybean oils. The results allowed for the detection and quantification of olive and soybean oils within 50–1% and 25–1%, respectively, both in argan oil. Both approaches provided acceptable performance parameters and accurate determinations, as proven by their applicability to blind mixtures. Herein, new qualitative and quantitative PCR assays are proposed for the first time as reliable and high-throughput tools to authenticate and valorize argan oil.

Stability-indicating RP-HPLC method development and validation for simultaneous estimation of telmisartan and rosuvastatin calcium in bulk and in tablet dosage form

Background

The stability-indicating chromatographic method was developed and validated for simultaneous estimation of telmisartan and rosuvastatin calcium in bulk and in tablet dosage form. The RP-HPLC elution was carried out at 242.0 nm using column Oyster ODS3 (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) isocratically, and a mobile phase containing 10 mM phosphate buffer with 1.1 g octane-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt having pH 2.5 (adjusted with 5% OPA) and acetonitrile, with a proportion of 500:500, v/v was pumped through the column maintained at ambient (about 25 °C) temperature with 1.0 mL/min flow rate. The proposed method was validated according to ICH Q2 (R1) guideline.

Results

Telmisartan and rosuvastatin were eluted at 2.553 min and 4.505 min, respectively. The method is linear from 99.9073 to 299.7218 µg/mL for telmisartan (R2 = 1.000) and 23.6841 – 71.0522 µg/mL for rosuvastatin (R2 = 0.999). The average recovery percentage was found 100.51, 99.76, and 99.14% for telmisartan and 99.68, 99.72, and 98.56% for rosuvastatin at three different levels. Results of method repeatability and intermediate precision were found within acceptable limits. Results of solution stability showed that mobile phase was stable for 2 days; standard and sample preparations are stable for 1 day at room temperature as well as in the refrigerator (2–8 °C). Also, forced degradation study results show that method is stability indicating as capable of distinguishing the active analytes peak from the degraded product.

Conclusion

The developed stability-indicating method is linear in studied concentration range as well as precise, accurate, specific, and robust. Hence, successfully this method can be used for routine analysis and stability study.

Graphical abstract