Validated QuEChERS-based UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the postharvest control of patulin (mycotoxin) contamination in red-pigmented fruits

Ilona Sadok; Agnieszka Szmagara; Agnieszka Krzyszczak

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134066

Validated QuEChERS-based UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the postharvest control of patulin (mycotoxin) contamination in red-pigmented fruits

Food Chem. 2023 Jan 30:400:134066. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134066. Epub 2022 Sep 5.

Authors

Ilona Sadok¹, Agnieszka Szmagara², Agnieszka Krzyszczak³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Sciences, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: ilona.sadok@kul.pl.
² Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Sciences, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: agnieszka.szmagara@kul.pl.
³ Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Sciences, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: agnieszka.krzyszczak@kul.pl.

PMID: 36075170
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134066

Abstract

The paper outlines a procedure based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry and QuEChERS pretreatment for the determination of patulin in selected berries and stone fruits. The mycotoxin was determined in the positive electrospray ionization mode utilizing the formation of its methanol adduct. The method was validated for 4 fruit matrices: strawberry (Rosaceae, Fragaria), raspberry (Rosaceae, Rubus), redcurrant (Rosaceae, Prunus) and sour cherry (Grossulariaceae, Ribes). The fruits were characterized by total phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanin contents and obtained results were within the ranges of 2.65-11.22 mg GAE/g, 1.06-4.67 mg CE/g, 0.05-1.44 mg cyd-3-glu/g, respectively. The limits of quantification ranged from 0.65 µg/kg to 3.01 µg/kg depending on the fruit type. The method was applied to 71 fruit samples collected in Poland. Analysis of moldy fruit samples has shown a high incidence of patulin contamination.

Keywords: Anthocyanin; Fruits; LC-MS/MS; Mycotoxins; Patulin; Patulin (PubChem CID: 4696, CAS: 149-29-1); QuEChERS.

MeSH terms

Anthocyanins / analysis
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
Fragaria*
Fruit / chemistry
Methanol / analysis
Patulin* / analysis
Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Substances

Anthocyanins
Patulin
Methanol