A multicomponent method for Fusarium toxins in cereal based food and feed samples using HPLC-MS/MS
S Biselli1, H Wegner, C Hummert
1Eurofins/Wiertz-Eggert-Jörissen, Stenzelring 14b, D-21107, Hamburg, scarlett.biselli@wej de.
Mycotoxin Research
|April 23, 2013
Summary
A new method accurately detects 12 Fusarium mycotoxins in cereals. This sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) approach ensures food safety by quantifying harmful toxins like zearalenone and trichothecenes.
Area of Science:
- Food Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Mycology
Background:
- Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites produced by fungi, pose significant risks to human and animal health.
- Fusarium species produce a range of mycotoxins, including trichothecenes and zearalenone, commonly found in cereal grains.
- Accurate and sensitive detection methods are crucial for monitoring mycotoxin contamination in food supplies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a reliable, sensitive, and selective multicomponent method for simultaneous determination of 12 Fusarium mycotoxins.
- To quantify trichothecenes (type A and B) and zearalenone in cereal and grain samples.
- To establish robust sample preparation and purification strategies for complex matrices.
Main Methods:
- Liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was employed for simultaneous detection.
- Sample preparation involved standard extraction followed by dual solid-phase clean-up (MycoSep®) for trichothecenes and immuno-affinity purification (AOZ-IAC) for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and zearalenone.
- Internal standard (zearalanone) and recovery standard (verrucarol) were used for accurate quantification of zearalenone and trichothecenes, respectively.
Main Results:
- The developed method demonstrated high reliability, sensitivity, and selectivity for 12 Fusarium mycotoxins.
- Average recoveries for trichothecenes ranged from 65% (nivalenol) to 96% (deoxynivalenol).
- Average recovery for zearalenone was 89%, with limits of quantification for individual trichothecenes between 1 and 10 ppb.
Conclusions:
- The LC-ESI-MS/MS method provides an effective tool for the simultaneous determination of multiple Fusarium mycotoxins in cereal and grain samples.
- The optimized sample preparation and purification steps ensure accurate and reliable quantification.
- This method contributes to enhanced food safety by enabling precise monitoring of mycotoxin contamination.
