Metabolomic Studies Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Tandem Mass Spectrometry to Discover Quality Markers for Oriental Beauty (Dongfang Meiren) Tea

In this study, a high-performance liquid chromatograph and an electrospray ionization (ESI) triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (TQ MS) detector were used to scan Oriental Beauty tea of different grades and prices. Principle component analysis (PCA) of the profiling data was performed for pattern recognition, clearly showing that the proposed MS profiling method was able to classify Oriental Beauty tea into different grades. The component mass ions primarily responsible for the separation were selected with high loading strength in the PCA for subsequent identification with tandem mass (MS/MS). Caffeine, citrate and salicylate were verified, whereas certain other compounds remained ambiguous. Regression analysis considering caffeine, citrate and salicylate showed a linear relationship between the prices of the Oriental Beauty tea with an adjusted R2 of 0.84. If all the selected marker ions (in addition to caffeine, citrate and salicylate) could have been identified and incorporated into regression analysis, a stronger relationship could have been confirmed. These results suggest that metabolomics can facilitate the determination of real markers in the quality control of Oriental Beauty tea, and may lead to the further application of metabolomics in other food quality controls.

Simultaneous Determination of 14 β-Receptor Agonists Residues in Mutton by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)

[Objectives]A high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS)method was established for the determination of 14β-receptor agonist residues in mutton.[Methods]Samples were hydrolyzed byβ-glucuronidase and extracted with 5%acetic acid-acetonitrile(1:99,V/V)solution.An Eclipse plus C 18 column was used for separation,and the MRM mode was used for qualitative analysis,and the external standard method was used for quantitative analysis of matrix standard solutions.[Results]Under the optimal conditions,the retention time of the 14 kinds ofβ-receptor agonists ranged from 1.0 to 9.5 min.When the mass concentration was in the range of 0.05-0.50μg/ml,the linear relationship ofβ-receptor agonists was good,with correlation coefficients(r)≥0.9992.The detection limits of the method were in the range of 0.04-0.87μg/kg,and the quantitative limits were in the range of 0.35-1.86μg/kg.The average recovery values were in the range of 82.8%-108.9%,with RSDs(n=6)in the range of 1.9%-6.7%.[Conclusions]The method is simple,sensitive,reproducible,accurate,and can be used for simultaneous determination of the 14 kinds ofβ-receptor agonist residues in mutton.

Determination of Oleuropein in Cosmetics by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Triple Quadrupole Tandem Mass Spectrometry

An ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)was established to quickly and accurately determine the content of oleuropein in cosmetics.The samples were extracted with methanol-aqueous solution,and the mobile phase with methanol-formic acid solution(0.1 mol/L)=40∶60 was separated by Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18(2.1 mm×50 mm×1.8μm-Micron)column temperature 30℃,flow rate 0.3 mL/min.The MS end was detected by electrospray negative mode ionization(ESI-)and multiple reaction monitoring(MRM)mode.The results show a good linear relationship in the range of 0.002~5 mg/L,with a correlation coefficient R2 of 0.999,5.Method recovery range from 84.2%~107.6%and the relative standard deviation RSD is 5.8%.The detection time is 5 min,the detection limit is 0.000,6 mg/L,and the limit of quantification is 0.002 mg/L.This method has the advantages of convenient operation,low quantification limit,high precision and good repeatability,and is suitable for measuring the content of oleuropein in many kinds of cosmetics.

Detection of 36 antibiotics in coastal waters using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Among pharmaceuticals and personal care products released into the aquatic environment, antibiotics are of particular concern, because of their ubiquity and health effects. Although scientists have recently paid more attention to the threat of antibiotics to coastal ecosystems, researchers have often focused on relatively few antibiotics, because of the absence of suitable analytical methods. We have therefore developed a method for the rapid detection of 36 antibiotic residues in coastal waters, including tetracyclines (TCs), sulfanilamides (SAs), and quinolones (QLs). The method consists of solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, using electrospray ionization (ESI) in positive mode. The SPE was performed with Oasis HLB and Oasis MCX cartridges. Chromatographic separation on a C18 column was achieved using a binary eluent containing methanol and water with 0.1% formic acid. Typical recoveries of the analytes ranged from 67.4% to 109.3% at a fortification level of 100 ng/L. The precision of the method, calculated as relative standard deviation (RSD), was below 14.6% for all the compounds. The limits of detection (LODs) varied from 0.45 pg to 7.97 pg. The method was applied to determine the target analytes in coastal waters of the Yellow Sea in Liaoning, China. Among the tested antibiotics, 31 were found in coastal waters, with their concentrations between the LOD and 212.5 ng/L. These data indicate that this method is valid for analysis of antibiotics in coastal waters. The study first reports such a large number of antibiotics along the Yellow Sea coast of Liaoning, and should facilitate future comprehensive evaluation of antibiotics in coastal ecosystems.

Determination of Voriconazole in Human Plasma by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry: Application in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

A sensitive, accurate and robust Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry method has been developed and validated to measure voriconazole trough levels in human plasma. The plasma samples were mixed with fluconazole as an Internal Standard and directed to protein precipitation and drug extraction. An aliquot of 1 μl was injected into the chromatographic system and separated by the Acquity BEH C18 column at a flow rate of 0.30 ml/min in a gradient mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, Ultrapure water (UPW), methanol and formic acid. Voriconazole was detected by a Triple Quadrupole Detector (TQD) operating on Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) and a positive ion mode Electrospray ionization (ESI) Q1 mass: 350.1 m/z, Q3 mass: 281.1 m/z. Method linearity of the calibration curve (0.10 - 8.00 μg/ml) indicated a correlation coefficient r ≥ 0.99. The intra and inter-assay accuracy was within 85% - 115% and the intra and inter-assay precision was ≤5.76%. Voriconazole recovery percentage was between 97.69 - 119.62%. The method was successively applied in routine voriconazole TDM.

Bio-analytical method development and validation of Rasagiline by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry detection and its application to pharmacokinetic study

The most suitable bio-analytical method based on liquid liquid extraction has been developed and validated for quantification of Rasagiline in human plasma. Rasagiline-13C3 mesylate was used as an internal standard for Rasagiline. Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 （2.1 mm × 50 mm, 3.5 um） column provided chromatographic separation of analyte followed by detection with mass spectrometry. The method involved simple isocratic chromatographic condition and mass spectrometric detection in the positive ionization mode using an API-4000 system. The lotal run time was 3.0 min. The proposed method has been validated with the linear range of 5 12000 pg/mL for Rasagiline. The intra-run and inter-run precision values were within 1.3% 2.9% and 1.6% 2.2% respectively for Rasagiline. The overall recovery for Rasagiline and Rasagiline-13C3 mesylate analog was 96.9% and 96.7% respectively. This validated method was successfully applied to the bioequivalence and pharmacokinetic study of human volunteers under fasting condition.

Determination of Sex Hormones in Antler Velvet by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Eighteen sex hormones in antler velvet were determined by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.The solid phase extraction was applied to eliminating the matrix effect.The experimental conditions were examined and optimized.Under the optimal conditions,the proposed method provides the good linearities and determination limits（0.2―1.0 μg/kg） of the analytes investigated.The recoveries ranging from 72.3% to 149.5% were obtained for the target analytes at two concentration levels.This method was applied to the determination of eighteen sex hormones in different kinds of antler velvet samples and the obtained results are satisfactory.The results indicate that the proposed method is suitable for the determination of sex hormones in antler velvet samples.

Modernization of Chinese herbal compound and the high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS)

Chinese herbal compound is playing an important role on curing human diseases.And it has been a trend that Chinese herbal compound is being used all over the world in 21 century.However,our Chinese herbal compound is facing serious challenge for the lack of canonical system of quality criterion for Chinese herbal compound so it has been a urgent problem to set up the quality control standards and reveal therapeutic basis of Chinese herbal compound.In order to give full play to the advantages of Chinese herbal compound,modern scientific and technological is used to research of Chinese herbal compound,especially the high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS),because it is high sensitive,rapid,and obtain more information.It is very necessary that HPLC-MS is uesed to elucidate the effective components of basic substances of Chinese Herbal Compound,and endow traditional Chinese medicine with modern scientific connotation.

Rapid Quantitative Determination of Isoprene Monomer in Living Taraxacum kok-saghyz by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Taraxacum kok-saghyz(TKS)is rich in natural rubber(NR),a natural organic macromolecular compound composed of cis-1,4-polyisoprene,and may become the second NR-bearing plant for biochemical engineering development.In this paper,a rapid and quantitative ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLCMS/MS)method was established for determination of macromolecular biosynthesis substrate(dimethylallyl pyrophosphate,DMAPP)and initiator(farnesyl pyrophosphate,FPP)contained in TKS.A Kromasil C18 chromatographic column was used for separation,and the multi-reaction monitoring mode(MRM)of triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was used for detection.Quantification was performed by external calibration method.The results showed that the limit of detection(LOD)and the limit of quantitation(LOQ)of DMAPP were 2.42μg/L and 7.26μg/L,respectively,and the LOQ and the LOD of FPP were 1.02μg/L and 3.05μg/L,respectively.At a concentration of 1—1000μg/L,both analytes had good determination coefficients(>0.999)of calibration curve.The recoveries of DMAPP and FPP were between 99.0%and 117.1%.In real samples detection,the contents of DMAPP and FPP in TKS samples were between 23.32—82.77μg/L and 12.03—85.67μg/L,respectively.Thus,this approach is a reliable method to quantify DMAPP and FPP in TKS.

Determination of okadaic acid related toxins from shellfish (<i>sinonovacula constricta</i>) by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Consumption of shellfish contaminated with algal toxins produced by marine dinoflagellates can lead to diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). It was therefore essential that there are analytical techniques to identify and quantify DSP toxins in shellfish. This new methodology could facilitate DSP monitoring and create a means of rapidly responding to incidents threatening public health. In the last years there were different analytical methods for DSP, such as mouse bioassay and LC-FLD. With the development of instrument, Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was substituted for other analytical methods with its good sensitivity and selectivity and without derivatization for the determination of DSP. In this report, a high performance liquid chromatogra-phytandem mass spectrometric(HPLC-MS/MS)method was developed for the simultaneous determination of okadaic acid (OA) and dinophysistoxins(DTX1) in Sinonovacula constricta. Optimization of pretreatment experiment was carried out to maximize recoveries and the effectiveness. The analytes were determined under multi-reactions monitoring (MRM) scan type with tandem mass analyzer using negative ion electrospray ionization (-ESI) mode .Finally, the detection and identification of OA and DTX-1 were based upon their retention times (RT) and the fragmentation patterns of their mass spectra. The method of LOQ for the two poisons was 0.02 mg·kg-1.The real sample test showed that this method could be used for sensitive, fast, and accurate determination of the two diarrheic shellfish poisons in shellfish.

Determination of thyreostats in bovine urine using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Five thyreostats(TSs),namely tapazole,thiouracil,methylthiouracil,propylthiouracil,and phenylthiouracil,were determined in bovine urine using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-MS/MS)in positive electrospray ionization mode.Extraction and clean-up were achieved using a ChemElut cartridge with tert-butyl methyl ether,without a derivatization step.Separation was achieved on an Acquity UPLC SS T3 column.The mobile phase was acetonitrile and water containing 0.2%(v/v)formic acid.The mass spectrometer was operated in multiple reaction monitoring mode.Urine samples were spiked with TS solution at levels corresponding to 5,10,15,and 20μg/L.The accuracy(internal standard corrected)ranged from 92%to 107%,with a repeatability precision(relative standard deviation,RSD)less than 15%for all five analytes.The RSDs within-laboratory reproducibility was less than 26%.The decision limits(CCα)and detection capabilities(CCβ)were obtained from a calibration curve and were in the ranges of 3.1-6.1μg/L and 4.0-7.4μg/L,respectively.The CCαand CCβvalues were below the recommended concentration,which was set at 10μg/L.The results show that the described method is suitable for the direct detection of TSs in bovine urine.This method can also be used to determine TSs in porcine urine.

Determination of 24 Allergens in Perfume with High Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A method of 24 allergens determination in cosmetics were established with high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The targeted compounds were extracted with acetonitrile and determined with LC-MS/MS (MRM mode) with external method. The linearity between concentrations and peak area ratio was obtained from 1.0~5.0 mg/L. The limits of detection were 1.0 mg/L for the instrument and 5.0 mg/kg for the method respectively. The LOQ was 15.0 mg/L. The average recoveries of 24 allergens were between 85.9% and 110.0% at spiked levels of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg with relative standard derivation (RSDs) of 5.5%~12.0%(n=10). The method could be used as a reliable means for simultaneous quantitative determination of allergens in cosmetics.

Determination of Steroid Hormone Residues in Fish Tissues Using Gel Permeation Chromatography and Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A highly sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 8 steroid hormones in high-fat fish tissues using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS).The 8 steroid hormones were extracted from the tissues with diethyl ether.Differing from other common purification methods,the extract solutions were cleaned by gel permeation chromatography(GPC) using ethyl acetate-cyclohexane solution(1:1,v/v) as the mobile phase.The separation of target compounds was carried out by a BEH C18 column and a gradient elution consisting of acetonitrile and 0.2% aqueous formic acid(v/v).The compounds were detected under the multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode and quantified with external standard method.This method was validated with respect to linearity,specificity,accuracy and precision.A linearity with correlation coefficient larger than 0.995 was achieved in the range of 0.5 to 50 ng m L^(-1).The average recoveries at the spiked levels of 1.0,5.0,and 10.0 μg kg^(–1) varied between 81.7% and 90.8%,with the relative standard deviations(n=5) ranged from 3.50% to 10.0%.The limit of quantification(LOQ) for 8 steroid hormones ranged from 0.2 to 1.5 μg kg^(-1).It was concluded that this method can be successfully applied for the determination of 8 steroid hormones in complicated matrices including high-fat fish tissues.

Analysis of ganciclovir and its related substances using high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods

Objective High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC/MS)methods were developed for the determination of ganciclovir and its related substances.Methods A Hypersil ODS2 column(4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm)was used with a mobile phase of 0.02 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer(pH 6.0)-methanol(92∶8)at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min,and UV detector set at 254 nm was used for monitoring the eluents.Results The method was simple,rapid,selective and capable of separating all related substances at trace level with a detection limit of 0.04 μg/mL.It has been validated with respect to accuracy,precision,linearity,and limits of detection and quantification.The linearity range was 10.2-153.0 μg/mL with r=0.9998.The percentage recoveries ranged from 96.7% to 101.6%,and RSD was 1.24%-1.96%(n=5).Conclusion The method was found to be suitable not only for monitoring the reactions during the process development but also for quality control of ganciclovir.For identification of related substances,LC/MS was used.The mainly related substances of ganciclovir active pharmaceutical ingredients(API)were determined as guanine,(1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methyl acetate,and diacetyl guanine.

Uncertainty Evaluation of Determination of Microcystin MC-LR in Environmental Samples by Solid Phase Extraction-Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

To assess uncertainty of determination of MC-LR in environmental samples by solid phase extraction- ultra performance liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry,the sources of the uncertainty were evaluated firstly,and the expanded uncertainty was calculated finally.The results show that when MC-LR concentration in the water samples was 0.50 μg/L,the expanded uncertainty was 0.00628 μg/L(k=2).

Determination of Residual Acrylamide in Medical Polyacrylamide Hydrogel by High Performance Liquid Chromatography tandem Mass Spectroscopy

Objective To determine residual acrylamide in medical polyacrylamide hydrogel by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy （HPLC-MS）. Methods After 13C3 labeled acrylamide was added, the sample was extracted with water and then cleaned up with ExtrelutTM 20. The polyacrylamide hydrogel sample and 20 clinical cases were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS and isotope dilution quantifying technique in selected reaction monitoring （SRM） mode. Results Acrylamide was separated from polyacrylamide hydrogel. The concentration of acrylamide in polyacrylamide hydrogel ranged from 3.9×10^-9 to 3.1×10^- 8g/L in the 20 clinical cases. The peak area was favorable linear and the range was up to 3 000 μg/L. The recovery rate was 103.1% with a relative standard deviation （RSD） of 6.20%, when the mark level was 50 lag/L. Conelusion HPLC-MS is a rapid, accurate, and sensitive method for the determination of residual acrylamide in medical polyacrylamide hydrogel.

Simultaneous Determination of Ultraviolet Absorbers and Antibacterial Agents in Textiles by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Orbitrap High Resolution Mass Spectrometry

This paper reported a new analytical method for the simultaneous determination of seven benzotriazole ultraviolet absorbers and seven antibacterial agents in textiles. After ultrasonic extraction for the textile samples in methanol, the solutions were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromotagraphy/orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC/Orbitrap HRMS). It showed that a good chromatographic separation for these target compounds was achieved by a Hypersil GOLD column (100 mm × 2.1 mm × 1.9 μm) with a gradient elution of methanol and 0.1% aqueous formic acid solution (containing 0.5 mmol/L ammonium acetate). Triclosan and 4-chloro-3,5-dimethyl phenol (PCMX) were detected by the orbitrap HRMS in an electrospray ionization (ESI) negative mode while the other twelve target compounds were detected by orbitrap HRMS in ESI positive mode. Full scan experiment was performed over the range from m/z 100 to m/z 500. These target compounds were routinely detected with mass accuracy below 2 × 10-6 (2 ppm) at the optimized conditions. The results showed that the limits of detection (LODs) were in the range from 0.1 to 0.3 μg/kg. The blank samples were spiked at three levels and their average recoveries varied from 80.5% to 96.3% while the relative standard deviation (RSD) changed from 3.2% to 9.9%. The present method was also applied for the determination of those ultraviolet absorbers and antibacterial agents in the commercial textiles.

Establishing a protein expression profile database for the normal human pituitary gland using two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography combined with LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry

In this study, we selected adult normal pituitary gland tissues from six patients during operations for pituitary microadenomas via the transsphenoidal approach for extended normal pituitary tissue resection around the tumor, and analyzed the protein expression of human normal pituitary using two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography combined with LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry proteomics technology. The ten most highly expressed proteins in normal human pituitary were： alpha 3 type VI collagen isoform 5 precursor （abundance among tall pituitary proteins 1.30%）, fibrinogen beta chain preproprotein （0.99%）, vimentin （0.73%）, prolactin （0.69%）, ATP synthase, H~ transporting and mitochondrial F1 complex beta subunit precursor （0.52%）, keratin I （0.49%）, growth hormone （0.45%）, carbonic anhydrase I （0.40%）, heat shock protein 90 kDa I （0.31%）, and annexin V （0.30%）. Based on the biological function classifications of these proteins, the top three categories by content were neuroendocrine proteins （abundance among all pituitary proteins, 40.1%）, catalytic and metabolic proteins （28.3%）, and cell signal transduction proteins （9.8%）. Based on cell positioning classification, the top three categories were cell organelle （24.5%） membrane （20.8%）, and cytoplasm （13.0%）. Based on biological process classification, the top three categories of proteins are involved in physiological processes （42.9%）, cellular processes （40.4%）, and regulation of biological processes （9.1%）. Our experimental findings indicate that a protein expression profile database of normal human pituitary can be precisely and efficiently established by proteomics technology.

Rapid Determination of Three Kinds of Microcystins in Environmental Water Samples by Disk SPE-Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A method of rapidly detecting three kinds of microcystins( MCs) in environmental water samples by using disk SPE- ultra high performance liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry( UPLC- MS / MS) was established. Firstly,environmental water samples were extracted by disk SPE column( C_(18)),and three kinds of MCs were separated by Waters BEH C_(18) chromatographic column with acetonitrile- 0. 2% formic acid solution as the mobile phase. After the gradient elution separation,the external standard method was used for quantitative and qualitative analysis under MRM of UPLC- MS / MS. The results showed that the three kinds of MCs in the range of 0. 05- 10 μg / L showed good linear relation,and the correlation coefficients were higher than 0. 999 4,while the method detection limit was 0. 04 ng / L. Under 0. 1,1,and 5 μg / L standard addition for the same environmental sample,the average recovery was 82. 8%- 108. 8%,and the relative standard deviation of determination results was2. 1%- 10. 1%( n = 6). This method is rapid,sensitive and accurate,so it can be effectively applied in the monitoring of MCs in environmental water samples.

Screening for Plant Toxins in Honey and Herbal Beverage by Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ion Mobility-Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

The standards of plant toxins were separated by a C18 column with gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid/water (V/V) and 0.1% formic acid/acetonitrile (V/V) as mobile phase and acquired by ion mobility-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (IM-QTOF MS) in positive ion mode. A database of 308 plant toxins including retention time, collision cross-section (CCS) and its fragment ions was established. Honey dissolved in water or herbal beverage was extracted by acetonitrile and purified with PSA sorbent, and then acquired by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography IM-QTOFMS. The acquired data were processed by comparing with the database we established to confirm the target compounds. The average recoveries for samples at two levels ranged from 60.6% - 120.1%, with relative standard deviation (n = 6) less than 25%. The limit of quantitation for plant toxins ranged from 1 - 20 μg/kg. The developed screening method was used in determination of honey, herbal beverage and honey flavored tea beverage samples. The results showed that berberine was detected in one honey with 1 μg/kg and caffeine was present in some beverages with the concentration from 200 and 5500 μg/kg. This method could meet the requirement for rapid screening of plant toxins in honey and herbal beverage. It can be used for the quality control of honey and herbal beverage in enterprises or quality inspection departments. It also can be used in the rapid screening of food poisoning.