Quantitation of abrine, an indole alkaloid marker of the toxic glycoproteins abrin, by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry when spiked into various beverages.
Abrine is an alkaloid chemical marker and surrogate analyte of abrin, a group of highly toxic glycoproteins. These toxins can be easily isolated from the seed of the rosary pea plant and distributed in a variety of matrices, including food. A procedure for the cleanup of abrine from various beverages, including milk, cola, juice drink, tea, and water, by C18 Strata-X solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges is described with comparison to a previously developed liquid-liquid extraction protocol utilizing acetonitrile and water. Analysis was by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Abrine quantitation was based on fragmentation of m/z 219.2 to product ion m/z 188.2. The method detection limit was 0.025 microg/mL, and the quantitation limit was 0.05 microg/mL. Fortifications of the five beverages at 0.5 and 0.05 microg/mL were recovered ranging from 88 to 111% [relative standard deviation (RSD) < 16%] by SPE and from 48 to 101% (RSD < 19%) by liquid-liquid extraction.
Owens
Janel
J
Forensic Science Center, Livermore, California 94550, USA. owens33@llnl.gov
Koester
Carolyn
C
D000036:Abrin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D002417:Cattle; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D026121:Indole Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D000036:Abrin; C496492:abrine