Novel Fast Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometric Quantitative Approach for the Determination of Plant-Extracted Phytosterols and Tocopherols
Phytosterols and tocopherols are commonly used in food and pharmaceutical industries for their health benefits. Current analysis methods rely on conventional liquid chromatography, using an analytical column, which can be tedious and time consuming. However, simple, and fast analytical methods can f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/5/1402 |
| _version_ | 1797413873027907584 |
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| author | George Gachumi Alice Demelenne Asmita Poudel Zafer Dallal Bashi Anas El-Aneed |
| author_facet | George Gachumi Alice Demelenne Asmita Poudel Zafer Dallal Bashi Anas El-Aneed |
| author_sort | George Gachumi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Phytosterols and tocopherols are commonly used in food and pharmaceutical industries for their health benefits. Current analysis methods rely on conventional liquid chromatography, using an analytical column, which can be tedious and time consuming. However, simple, and fast analytical methods can facilitate their qualitative and quantitative analysis. In this study, a fast chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (FC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of phytosterols and tocopherols. Omitting chromatography by employing flow injection analysis—mass spectrometry (FIA-MS) failed in the quantification of target analytes due to analyte-to-analyte interferences from phytosterols. These interferences arise from their ambiguous MS fingerprints that would lead to false identification and inaccurate quantification. Therefore, a C18 guard column with a 1.9 µm particle size was employed for FC-MS/MS under isocratic elution using acetonitrile/methanol (99:1 <i>v</i>/<i>v</i>) at a flow rate of 600 µL/min. Analyte-to-analyte interferences were identified and eliminated. The false peaks could then be easily identified due to chromatographic separation. In addition, two internal standards were evaluated, namely cholestanol and deuterated cholesterol. Both internal standards contributed to the observed analyte-to-analyte interferences; however, adequate shift in the retention time for deuterated cholesterol eliminated its interferences and allowed for an accurate quantification. The method is fast (1.3 min) compared to published methods and can distinguish false peaks observed in FIA-MS. Seven analytes were quantified simultaneously, namely brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, α-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol. The method was successfully applied in the quantitative analysis of phytosterols and tocopherols present in the unsaponifiable matter of canola oil deodorizer distillate (CODD). β-sitosterol and γ-tocopherol were the most abundant phytosterols and tocopherols, respectively. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:24:18Z |
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| id | doaj.art-6720fcde6b97493ab56a7c296d2bfbeb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:24:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-6720fcde6b97493ab56a7c296d2bfbeb2023-12-03T12:37:52ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-03-01265140210.3390/molecules26051402Novel Fast Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometric Quantitative Approach for the Determination of Plant-Extracted Phytosterols and TocopherolsGeorge Gachumi0Alice Demelenne1Asmita Poudel2Zafer Dallal Bashi3Anas El-Aneed4Drug Design and Discovery Group, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, CanadaLaboratory for the Analysis of Medicines, Department of Pharmacy, CIRM, University of Liège, 4000 Liege, BelgiumDrug Design and Discovery Group, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, CanadaDrug Design and Discovery Group, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, CanadaDrug Design and Discovery Group, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, CanadaPhytosterols and tocopherols are commonly used in food and pharmaceutical industries for their health benefits. Current analysis methods rely on conventional liquid chromatography, using an analytical column, which can be tedious and time consuming. However, simple, and fast analytical methods can facilitate their qualitative and quantitative analysis. In this study, a fast chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (FC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of phytosterols and tocopherols. Omitting chromatography by employing flow injection analysis—mass spectrometry (FIA-MS) failed in the quantification of target analytes due to analyte-to-analyte interferences from phytosterols. These interferences arise from their ambiguous MS fingerprints that would lead to false identification and inaccurate quantification. Therefore, a C18 guard column with a 1.9 µm particle size was employed for FC-MS/MS under isocratic elution using acetonitrile/methanol (99:1 <i>v</i>/<i>v</i>) at a flow rate of 600 µL/min. Analyte-to-analyte interferences were identified and eliminated. The false peaks could then be easily identified due to chromatographic separation. In addition, two internal standards were evaluated, namely cholestanol and deuterated cholesterol. Both internal standards contributed to the observed analyte-to-analyte interferences; however, adequate shift in the retention time for deuterated cholesterol eliminated its interferences and allowed for an accurate quantification. The method is fast (1.3 min) compared to published methods and can distinguish false peaks observed in FIA-MS. Seven analytes were quantified simultaneously, namely brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, α-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol. The method was successfully applied in the quantitative analysis of phytosterols and tocopherols present in the unsaponifiable matter of canola oil deodorizer distillate (CODD). β-sitosterol and γ-tocopherol were the most abundant phytosterols and tocopherols, respectively.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/5/1402phytosterolstocopherolsfast chromatography-mass spectrometrycanola deodorizer distillate |
| spellingShingle | George Gachumi Alice Demelenne Asmita Poudel Zafer Dallal Bashi Anas El-Aneed Novel Fast Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometric Quantitative Approach for the Determination of Plant-Extracted Phytosterols and Tocopherols Molecules phytosterols tocopherols fast chromatography-mass spectrometry canola deodorizer distillate |
| title | Novel Fast Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometric Quantitative Approach for the Determination of Plant-Extracted Phytosterols and Tocopherols |
| title_full | Novel Fast Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometric Quantitative Approach for the Determination of Plant-Extracted Phytosterols and Tocopherols |
| title_fullStr | Novel Fast Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometric Quantitative Approach for the Determination of Plant-Extracted Phytosterols and Tocopherols |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel Fast Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometric Quantitative Approach for the Determination of Plant-Extracted Phytosterols and Tocopherols |
| title_short | Novel Fast Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometric Quantitative Approach for the Determination of Plant-Extracted Phytosterols and Tocopherols |
| title_sort | novel fast chromatography tandem mass spectrometric quantitative approach for the determination of plant extracted phytosterols and tocopherols |
| topic | phytosterols tocopherols fast chromatography-mass spectrometry canola deodorizer distillate |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/5/1402 |
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