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Editorial

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5 pages, 218 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Applications of Chromatographic Techniques in Food and Environmental Analysis

by Bárbara Socas-Rodríguez

Separations 2022, 9(12), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9120418 - 8 Dec 2022

Viewed by 973

Abstract

Throughout history, analytical chemistry has been a key area for many other scientific fields [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Chromatographic Techniques in Food and Environmental Analysis)

Research

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19 pages, 1725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simultaneous Chemical and Sensory Analysis of Domestic Cat Urine and Feces with Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and GC-MS-Olfactometry

by Chumki Banik, Jacek A. Koziel and James Z. Li

Separations 2021, 8(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations8020015 - 31 Jan 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4514

Abstract

The association between humans and cats (Felis catus) is well known. This domestic animal is also known for its malodorous urine and feces. The complexity of the odorous urine and feces impacts human life by triggering the human sensory organ in [...] Read more.

The association between humans and cats (Felis catus) is well known. This domestic animal is also known for its malodorous urine and feces. The complexity of the odorous urine and feces impacts human life by triggering the human sensory organ in a negative way. The objective of this research was to identify the volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and associated odors in cat urine and feces using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and simultaneous sensory analysis of fresh and aged samples. The solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique was used to preconcentrate the VOCs emitted from urine or feces samples. Twenty-one compounds were identified as emitted from fresh urine, whereas 64 compounds were emitted from fresh feces. A contrasting temporal impact was observed in the emission of VOCs for urine and feces. On aging, the emission increased to 34 detected chemicals for stale urine, whereas only 12 chemicals were detected in stale feces. Not all compounds were malodorous; some compounds had a pleasant hedonic smell to the human nose. Although trimethylamine, low-molecular-weight organic acids, and ketones were contributors to the odor to some extent, phenolic compounds and aromatic heterocyclic organic N compounds generated the most intense odors and substantially contributed to the overall malodor, as observed by this study. This work might be useful to formulate cat urine and feces odor remediation approaches to reduce odor impacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Chromatographic Techniques in Food and Environmental Analysis)

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22 pages, 1576 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Multi-Target Analysis and Suspect Screening of Xenobiotics in Milk by UHPLC-HRMS/MS

by Mikel Musatadi, Belén González-Gaya, Mireia Irazola, Ailette Prieto, Nestor Etxebarria, Maitane Olivares and Olatz Zuloaga

Separations 2021, 8(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations8020014 - 26 Jan 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3827

Abstract

The development of suspect or non-target screening methods to detect xenobiotics in biological fluids is essential to properly understand the exposome and assess its adverse health effects on humans. In order to fulfil that aim, the biomonitorization of human fluids is compulsory. However, [...] Read more.

The development of suspect or non-target screening methods to detect xenobiotics in biological fluids is essential to properly understand the exposome and assess its adverse health effects on humans. In order to fulfil that aim, the biomonitorization of human fluids is compulsory. However, these methods are not yet extensively developed, especially for polar organic xenobiotics in biofluids such as milk, as most works are only focused on certain analytes of interest. In this work, a multi-target analysis method to determine 245 diverse xenobiotics in milk by means of Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC)-qOrbitrap was developed. Under optimal conditions, liquid milk samples were extracted with acetonitrile in the presence of anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and NaCl, and the extracts were cleaned-up by protein precipitation at low temperature and Captiva Non-Drip (ND)—Lipids filters. The optimized method was validated at two concentration-levels (10 ng/g and 40 ng/g) obtaining satisfactory figures of merit for more than 200 compounds. The validated multi-target method was applied to several milk samples, including commercial and breast milk, provided by 4 healthy volunteers. Moreover, the method was extended to perform suspect analysis of more than 17,000 xenobiotics. All in all, several diverse xenobiotics were detected, highlighting food additives (benzothiazole) or phytoestrogens (genistein and genistin) in commercial milk samples, and stimulants (caffeine), plasticizers (phthalates), UV filters (benzophenone), or pharmaceuticals (orlistat) in breast milk samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Chromatographic Techniques in Food and Environmental Analysis)

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11 pages, 794 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Analytical Tools for Unmasking Frauds in Raw Milk-Based Dairy Products: Assessment, Validation and Application to Fiore Sardo PDO Cheese of a RP-HPLC Method for the Evaluation of the α-l-Fucosidase Activity

by Alessio Silvio Dedola, Luca Piras, Margherita Addis, Antonio Pirisi, Giovanni Piredda, Andrea Mara and Gavino Sanna

Separations 2020, 7(3), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations7030040 - 9 Jul 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2900

Abstract

The activity of α-l-fucosidase (FSC) has been measured for the first time in Fiore Sardo PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) raw milk cheese. To do this, a RP-HPLC method has been developed, validated and tested on a reliable sampling of cheese experimentally produced [...] Read more.

The activity of α-l-fucosidase (FSC) has been measured for the first time in Fiore Sardo PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) raw milk cheese. To do this, a RP-HPLC method has been developed, validated and tested on a reliable sampling of cheese experimentally produced in laboratory batches. Three experimental factors have been considered in this work: the thermal treatment undergone by the milk, the lactation period and the ripening time of cheese. Results obtained have evidenced: (i) a meaningful reduction in the activity of FSC from cheeses produced using raw milk to those obtained by thermized milk; (ii) an increase in the activity of FSC during the first months of lactation period (from December to February), followed by a substantial constancy in the central and final months of lactation (from February to May); (iii) the enzyme activity is independent of the ripening time. This method might be useful in revealing frauds related to the use of mild thermal treatments of the milk when this is not allowed as for Fiore Sardo PDO cheese but also for several PDO cheeses for which the specifications establish that raw milk only must be used for their production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Chromatographic Techniques in Food and Environmental Analysis)

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13 pages, 2663 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Targeted Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) Fingerprints for the Chemometric Characterization and Classification of Turmeric and Curry Samples

by Nerea Núñez, Oscar Vidal-Casanella, Sonia Sentellas, Javier Saurina and Oscar Núñez

Separations 2020, 7(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations7020032 - 10 Jun 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3935

Abstract

In this work, non-targeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) fingerprints obtained by C18 reversed-phase chromatography were proposed as sample chemical descriptors for the characterization and classification of turmeric and curry samples. A total of 21 turmeric and 9 curry commercially available [...] Read more.

In this work, non-targeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) fingerprints obtained by C18 reversed-phase chromatography were proposed as sample chemical descriptors for the characterization and classification of turmeric and curry samples. A total of 21 turmeric and 9 curry commercially available samples were analyzed in triplicate after extraction with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The results demonstrated the feasibility of non-targeted UHPLC-HRMS fingerprints for sample classification, showing very good classification capabilities by partial least squares regression-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), with 100% classification rates being obtained by PLS-DA when randomly selected samples were processed as “unknown” ones. Besides, turmeric curcuma species (Curcuma longa vs. Curcuma zedoaria) and turmeric Curcuma longa varieties (Madras, Erodes, and Alleppey) discrimination was also observed by PLS-DA when using the proposed fingerprints as chemical descriptors. As a conclusion, non-targeted UHPLC-HRMS fingerprinting is a suitable methodology for the characterization, classification, and authentication of turmeric and curry samples, without the requirement of using commercially available standards for quantification nor the necessity of metabolite identification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Chromatographic Techniques in Food and Environmental Analysis)

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8 pages, 453 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GC-FID Analysis and Antibacterial Activity of the Calyptranthes concinna Essential Oil against MDR Bacterial Strains

by Maria do Socorro Costa, Nara Juliana Santos Araújo, Thiago Sampaio de Freitas, Francisco Assis Bezerra da Cunha, Wanderlei do Amaral, Cícero Deschamps, Camila Confortin, Luiz Everson da Silva and Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho

Separations 2020, 7(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations7010010 - 4 Feb 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2588

Abstract

Presently, results from a study carried out in this area using the essential oil from the Calyptranthes concinna species, a representative from the Myrtaceae family, are reported. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was used [...] Read more.

Presently, results from a study carried out in this area using the essential oil from the Calyptranthes concinna species, a representative from the Myrtaceae family, are reported. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was used to identify its chemical constituents. Antibacterial activity was determined using the broth microdilution method, thus obtaining the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value, from which the subinhibitory concentration (MIC/8) was derived. The C. concinna essential oil presented antibacterial activity against both standard and multiresistant bacteria. In addition, the oil demonstrated an antibiotic activity potentiation against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli when in combination with the antibiotic gentamicin, reducing the MIC from 141.38 μg/mL and 208.63 μg/mL to 64 μg/mL and 128 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: Findings from the present study suggest this oil is promising in terms of its antimicrobial activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Chromatographic Techniques in Food and Environmental Analysis)

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9 pages, 3086 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Profile of Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm. f.) Becherer Using HPTLC

by Marimuthu alias Antonysamy Johnson, Janarthanan Gowtham, Narayanan Janakiraman, Tharmaraj Renisheya Joy Jeba Malar, Janaina E. Rocha and Henrique D. M. Coutinho

Separations 2020, 7(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations7010008 - 23 Jan 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3098

Abstract

The present study was aimed to validate the phenolic, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins profile of Aspleniuma ethiopicum (Burm. f.) Becherer methanolic extracts using HPTLC (High-performance thin-layer chromatography). The chromatographic separation was performed using the standard method. The separation methodology was optimized and phytoconstituents [...] Read more.

The present study was aimed to validate the phenolic, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins profile of Aspleniuma ethiopicum (Burm. f.) Becherer methanolic extracts using HPTLC (High-performance thin-layer chromatography). The chromatographic separation was performed using the standard method. The separation methodology was optimized and phytoconstituents of A. aethiopicum methanolic extracts were separated. The methanolic extract of A. aethiopicum showed several bands identified as known phenolic compounds. The obtained flavonoids profiles were identified. HPTLC alkaloids profile of A. aethiopicum revealed 11 types of alkaloids. The tannin profile of methanolic extracts of A. aethiopicum demonstrated 11 different types of tannins. The observed profiles will be used as phytomarker to identify the chemical constituents of A. aethiopicum methanolic extracts. These profiles will act as a fingerprint of A. aethiopicum and help us to distinguish from its adulterants. The observed profile will help us to identify the crude drugs and improve the therapeutic potentials of A. aethiopicum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Chromatographic Techniques in Food and Environmental Analysis)

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Review

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27 pages, 3592 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Recent Advances in the Analysis of Vitamin D and Its Metabolites in Food Matrices

by Bárbara Socas-Rodríguez, Margareta Sandahl, Cecilia Holm and Charlotta Turner

Separations 2020, 7(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations7020036 - 24 Jun 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4725

Abstract

Vitamin D and its analogues are fat-soluble vitamins that carry out important functions in human and animal organisms. Many studies have pointed out the relationship between the deficiency of these substances and the development of both skeletal- and extra-skeletal diseases. Although vitamin D [...] Read more.

Vitamin D and its analogues are fat-soluble vitamins that carry out important functions in human and animal organisms. Many studies have pointed out the relationship between the deficiency of these substances and the development of both skeletal- and extra-skeletal diseases. Although vitamin D is fundamentally derived from the bio-transformation of its precursor, 7-dehydrocholesterol, through the action of UV-B radiation in the skin, dietary intake also plays an important role in the regulation of its status in an organism. For this reason, the application of reliable methodologies that enable monitoring the content of vitamin D and its analogues in food and supplements constitutes an aspect of special relevance to establish adequate habits, which avoid the deficiency of these substances in organisms and, consequently, the appearance of related diseases. The use of chromatographic techniques in combination with conventional and novel sample pre-treatments has become a suitable strategy to achieve this aim. This review compiles the most relevant methodologies reported in the last ten years for vitamin D analogues analysis in food matrices. Particular attention has been paid to provide a general overview of the most suitable approaches in terms of reliability, sensitivity and simplicity, used in the field of food analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Chromatographic Techniques in Food and Environmental Analysis)

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