Simultaneous determination of 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals, lipid peroxidation toxic products

Lipid peroxidation has been associated with cell injury and possible carcinogenecity, for the products can damage cellular membrane and DNA. Among the products formed from lipid peroxidation, 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals are the major components and have been suggested to play a role in cellular toxicity. However, the difficulties of the quantification due to their strong reactivity during laboratory procedures hinder the exposure measurement of the compounds. A novel detection method based on the conversion of 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals to stable diols and to subsequent ortho-esters has been developed. Simultaneous detection in a sensitive single-ion monitoring mode by GC/MS was carried out, monitoring m/z 129, which was the common fragment ion for the ortho-esters derived from 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals. The proposed method was used to quantify 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in oils and in oxidized arachidonic acid.