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The application of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) technique for the rapid analysis of aflatoxins B(1), B(2), G(1) and G(2) in maize, rice and wheat products has been evaluated. After extraction of aflatoxins from cereal matrices with a mixture of methanol/water 8:2 (v/v), the analytes were rapidly transferred from the extract to another small volume of organic solvent, chloroform, by DLLME. Aflatoxins were determined using high performance liquid chromatography with florescence detection and photochemical post-column derivatization. Parameters affecting both extraction and DLLME procedures, such as extraction solvent, type and volume of DLLME extractant, volume of water and salt effect, were systematically investigated and optimized to achieve the best extraction efficiency. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the whole analytical method provides enrichment factors around 2.5 times and detection limits (0.01-0.17 μg kg(-1)) below the maximum levels imposed by current regulation for aflatoxins in cereals and cereal products intended for direct human consumption. Recoveries (67-92%) and repeatability (RSD<10, n=3), tested in three different cereal matrices, meet the performance criteria required by EC Regulation No. 401/2006 for the determination of the levels of mycotoxins in foodstuffs. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of retail cereal products with quantitative results comparable to the immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC). The main advantages of developed method are the simplicity of operation, the rapidity to achieve a very high sample throughput and low cost., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A new phenolic derivative, 4-methoxyphenol 1-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 --> 6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), has been identified together with uncommon 3,4-dimethoxyphenol 1-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 --> 6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2) and 3-hydroxy, 4-methoxyphenol 1-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 --> 6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3) from the leaves of Martinella obovata (Kunth) Bureau & K. Schum., an Honduran species used in folk medicine for the treatment of eyes diseases. Verbascoside, isoverbascoside, leucoceptoside A, vitexin, isovitexin, luteolin 8-C-beta-D-glucopiranoside and spireoside were also found. All structures were elucidated on the basis of mass spectrometry and 2D NMR techniques.

Chemical composition of propolis depends on the specificity of the local flora at the site of collection and thus on the geographic and climatic characteristics of this place. This paper describes a comparative analysis of Cuban red propolis (CRP), Brazilian red propolis (BRP), and Dalbergia ecastophyllum exudates (DEE) by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection and tandem mass spectrometry. The aim of this study was to investigate the overall chemical profile and the botanical origin of red propolis and to suggest similarities and differences between samples collected in different tropical regions. Isoliquiritigenin (1), liquiritigenin and naringenin (2 and 17), isoflavones (3-4 and 16), isoflavans (5-7 and 18), and pterocarpans (8-13) were detected in CRP, BRP, and DEE, whereas polyisoprenylated benzophenones (PPBs) guttiferone E/xanthochymol (14a,b) and oblongifolin A (15) were detected only in BRP. Pigments responsible for the red color of DEE and red propolis were also identified as two C30 isoflavans, the new retusapurpurin B (19) and retusapurpurin A (20). PPBs and pigments were isolated and unambiguously characterized by 1D and 2D NMR analysis. These results show that red propolis samples from different tropical zones have a similar chemical composition. DEE is the main red propolis source, but the presence of PPBs in BRP suggests the contribution of different botanical sources for Brazilian samples. This chemical information is important for quality control of red propolis and its commercial products and for biological study.

A novel approach for the rapid analysis of ochratoxin A (OTA) in wine samples is presented. Mycotoxin was extracted and concentrated from matrix using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME). The final extract is analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry employing [(2)H(5)]-ochratoxin A as internal standard. Some important parameters, such as the nature and volume of extraction solvent and dispersive solvent, and salt effect were investigated and optimized to achieve the best extraction efficiency and higher enrichment factor. Under the optimum extraction condition, the method provided enrichment factor around 80 times and showed a high sensitivity with method detection and quantification limits of 0.005 and 0.015 ng mL(-1), respectively. To test the accuracy of the analytical procedure, the optimized method was applied to the analysis of reference material T1755 (naturally contaminated white wine), with excellent results (accuracy of 103%) and showing a good precision with a CV (n = 6) of 5.8%. The proposed method, which is demonstrated to be quick, cheap, accurate and highly selective, was successfully applied to the analysis of Italian wines.

Aflatoxins (AFs) B(1), B(2), G(1) and G(2) were extracted from nuts by using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and the PLE extracts were analyzed using HPLC with fluorescence detection using photochemical post-column derivatization without further cleanup procedures. Several extraction parameters such as temperature (25, 40, 60 and 80 degrees C), pressure (500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 psi), solvent extraction mixture (acetone, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate and methanol), number of cycles (1 and 2), use of dispersing agents and cell size (5 and 11 mL) were investigated for their effects on the extraction performance. The results showed 60 degrees C, 1500 psi, acetonitrile, one cycle and a cell size of 5 mL as most favorable PLE operating conditions. The proposed analytical method provides LODs below the maximum levels established by European Union regulations and the recoveries of the four AFs were between 77 and 93% at spiking levels of 4, 2 and 0.5 microg/kg for AFB(1) and AFG(1) and 1, 0.5 and 0.13 microg/kg for AFB(2) and AFG(2). Validation was carried out using certified reference materials. PLE has been applied for the first time to the analysis of AFs in nuts and offers the possibility for fast simple and accurate quantitative determination of studied mycotoxins.

Nemorosone is a polycyclic polyisoprenylated benzophenone (PPBs) with strong cytotoxic activity. It is the major constituent of Clusia rosea floral resin and brown Cuban propolis. Other PPBs found in Cuban propolis are oxidized and cyclized derivatives of nemorosone. The instability of PPBs carrying an enolizable 1,3-diketone system has been suggested, and the elucidation of this aspect is very fundamental for the evaluation of their biologic activity. Electrospray ionization multistage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)) was employed to shed light on the origin of these derivatives of nemorosone and to define the stability of this natural product. For this purpose, we initially performed MS(n) experiments on seven related PPBs to obtain useful information for structural characterization of this class of compounds and to identify the degradation products of nemorosone. The proposed fragmentation pathways, supported by exact mass measurements, allowed the nature of side chains on the bicyclo core and the type and position of their modifications to be established. In a second part, the degradation profile of nemorosone under different conditions was investigated to assess the possible effects of isolation procedures, climatic, and storage conditions on its stability. Our results reveal that nemorosone undergoes rapid degradation in n-hexane and chloroform solutions. The degradation products, identified by HPLC-ESI/MS(n) and NMR, are identical to derivatives of nemorosone previously isolated from propolis and plants. Thus, these PPBs are artefacts formed predominantly during the extraction and purification procedures.

A hydroalcoholic extract of lime ( Citrus aurantifolia) leaves has been developed in Cuba to be used as a nutritional supplement and phytomedicine in the form of tincture (TLL). A HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS/MS method has been used for the comprehensive analysis of C-glycosyl flavones in TLL. Six C-glycosyl flavones were characterized and, to confirm the proposed structures and to elucidate the nature of the sugar units, a preparative procedure was applied, and isolated compounds were characterized by NMR. Apigenin-6,8-di-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (vicenin II) (1), diosmetin-6,8-di- C-beta- d-glucopyranoside (2), apigenin-8-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (vitexin) (3), apigenin-8-C-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), apigenin-6-C-[alpha-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5). and apigenin-6-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (isovitexin) (6) were identified in TLL and quantified by HPLC-PDA. Compounds 4 and 5 were two new arabinosyl derivatives of vitexin and isovitexin. Inhibitor effect of TLL on platelet aggregation induced by physiological agonists of platelets was evaluated in human plasma. TLL inhibited significantly ADP and epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner (IC 50=0.40 and 0.32 mg/mL, respectively).