A Targeted UHPLC-MS/MS Method Validated for the Quantification of Ergot Alkaloids in Cereal-Based Baby Food from the Belgian Market

Overview

Journal Toxins (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Toxicology

Date 2021 Aug 26

PMID 34437402

Citations 8

Authors

Bart Huybrechts

Svetlana V Malysheva

Julien Masquelier

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Following pending new legislation in the European Union setting a maximum of 20 ng g for the total sum of ergot alkaloids in dry cereal-based baby food, a new UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed. It is suitable for the quantification of six ergot alkaloids: Ergocornine, ergocristine, ergometrine, ergosine, ergotamine, α-ergocryptine, and their corresponding epimers. The method is able to reliably detect individual ergot alkaloids at a level as low as 0.5 ng g. The method uses a modified QuEChERS extraction approach before UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. The method showed good sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. It has been applied to 49 samples from the Belgian market. In 26 samples, not a single ergot alkaloid was detected while in 23 out of 49 samples at least one ergot alkaloid was detected with 2 samples containing 12 ergot alkaloids. Ergometrine was the alkaloid most frequently detected i.e., 16 out of 49 samples. Only one sample, testing positive for all 12 ergot alkaloids, would be non-conforming to the newly proposed Maximum Residue Level (MRL).

Citing Articles

Ergot alkaloids: comparison of extraction efficiencies for their monitoring in several cereal-solvent combinations by UPLC-MS/MS.

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Climate Effects on Ergot and Ergot Alkaloids Occurrence in Italian Wheat.

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The C-8-S-isomers of ergot alkaloids - a review of biological and analytical aspects.

Cherewyk J, Blakley B, Al-Dissi A Mycotoxin Res. 2023; 40(1):1-17.

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Occurrence of Ergot Alkaloids in Major and Minor Cereals from Northern Italy: A Three Harvesting Years Scenario.

Carbonell-Rozas L, Alabrese A, Meloni R, Righetti L, Blandino M, DallAsta C J Agric Food Chem. 2023; 71(42):15821-15828.

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