A GC-EI-MS-MS method for simultaneous determination of seven adulterants in slimming functional foods

A gas chromatography-electron impact-tandem mass spectrometric method was established for the simultaneous determination of seven adulterants, including fenfluramine (FEN), norpseudoephedrine (NPE), pseudoephedrine (PSE), ephedrine (EPH), amfepramone (AMF), sibutramine (SIB) and strychnine (STR) in slimming functional foods. The target chemicals were extracted with 2% formic acid solution and then cleaned-up with solid-phase extraction using a strong cation exchange cartridge from tablet, liquid, mixed plant powder and capsule formulations. Chromatographic separation was accomplished on a VF-5MS column within 23 min. Leucomalachite green was employed as an internal standard. The recoveries of seven target chemicals in two formulations ranged from 80.1 to 106%. Limits of detection of the method were from 7.5 to 375 µg/kg with relative standard deviations of 1.6 to 13.9%. The linearity of the method ranged from 90 to 1500 ng/mL for NPE, 150 to 1500 ng/mL for STR, 10 to 500 ng/mL for AMF, 5.0 to 500 ng/mL for PSE and EPH and 3.0 to 500 ng/mL for FEN and SIB. This method was applied to the determination of six brands of slimming functional foods. SIB was detected in five of the samples with the contents in the range of 10.3 - 8.55 × 10(5) μg/kg.