Honey analysis in terms of nicotine, patulin and other mycotoxins contamination by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS - method development and validation

Abstract

Fifty-seven samples of honey of different types and origins were screened for nicotine and nine mycotoxins (aflatoxin B₁, aflatoxin B₂, fusarenon X, ochratoxin A, penicillic acid, zearalenone, sterigmatocystin, gliotoxin, and patulin). The sample set consisted of monofloral, multifloral, nectar, honeydrew, cream, and artificial honey originating mainly from Poland. The physicochemical characterization of honey was performed by determining colour (by Pfund method), water content (by refractometry), total phenolics and flavonoids content (by spectrophotometry). For nicotine and mycotoxins determination a QuEChERS-based UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS method was developed and validated. Analyses were carried out in alkaline conditions to ensure patulin-methanol adduct formation and facilitate this mycotoxin detection. About 33% of tested honey samples were contaminated by nicotine or/and mycotoxins. However, the presence of mycotoxins was not related to herein evaluated physicochemical parameters of honey samples.

Keywords: Aflatoxins; Fusarenon X; Gliotoxin; Honey; LC-MS/MS; Mycotoxins; Nicotine; Ochratoxin A; Patulin; Penicillic acid; Sterigmatocystin; Zearalenone.