Floral origin markers for authenticating Lavandin honey (Lavandula angustifolia x latifolia). Discrimination from Lavender honey (Lavandula latifolia)

The aim of this study was to identify the botanical origin of Lavandin honey, a monofloral product of recent proliferation obtained from a hybrid of the species Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia. Lavandin was authenticated here in chemical, palynological and sensory terms, and discriminated from the more common Lavender honey (L. latifolia).A total of 14 physico–chemical parameters, 26 pollen types, 13 sensory attributes and 80 volatile compounds were identified and/or quantified for this purpose.High concentrations of γ-nonalactone, farnesol and acetovanillone, which were for the first time identified as components of honey aroma in this study, together with several lactones, dehydrovomifoliol, 4-methoxyacetophenone and decanal are proposed as chemical markers for authenticating Lavandin monofloral honey. In sensory terms, increased scores for “caramel” and “peach compote” sensations, together with an increased Rubus pollen content, provide additional useful information for the accurate authentication of Lavandin honey and its discrimination from Lavender honey (L. latifolia).Results showed enough floral markers to authenticate the botanical origin of Lavandin honey allowing its marketing as monofloral rather than generic honey.     

Mycotoxin Biomarkers of Exposure: A Comprehensive Review

To date, the use of biomarkers has become generally accepted. Biomarker‐driven research has been proposed as a successful method to assess the exposure to xenobiotics by using concentrations of the parent compounds and/or metabolites in biological matrices such as urine or blood. However, the identification and validation of biomarkers of exposure remain a challenge. Recent advances in high‐resolution mass spectrometry along with new analytical (post‐acquisition data‐mining) techniques will improve the quality and output of the biomarker identification process. Chronic or even acute exposure to mycotoxins remains a daily fact, and therefore it is crucial that the mycotoxins’ metabolism is unravelled so more knowledge on biomarkers in humans and animals is acquired. This review aims to provide the scientific community with a comprehensive overview of reported in vitro and in vivo mycotoxin metabolism studies in relation to biomarkers of exposure for deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, fusarenon‐X, T‐2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, ochratoxin A, citrinin, fumonisins, zearalenone, aflatoxins, and sterigmatocystin.     

低聚糖和多酚结合偏最小二乘判别分析鉴别油菜蜜产地

采用气相色谱-串联质谱技术测定油菜蜜中6 种低聚糖成分,高效液相色谱-串联质谱技术测定油菜蜜中18 种酚酸物质,并结合偏最小二乘判别分析（partial least square-discrimination analysis,PLS-DA）对来自湖北钟祥市、江苏盐城市、青海刚察县3 个具有显著地理、气候、环境差异的51 个油菜蜜样本进行产地鉴别。方差分析结果显示：3 个产地油菜蜜中松二糖含量具有显著性差异,且青海刚察油菜蜜低聚糖含量相对偏高;油菜蜜的18 种多酚类物质中大多数具有显著的地理差异性且湖北钟祥的油菜蜜中多酚含量相对偏高。多元统计分析结果显示多酚具有显著的地理特征性。油菜蜜中低聚糖和多酚的含量结合PLS-DA产地鉴别的预测精度可达到97%。     

固相萃取-高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定蜂胶中氯霉素残留

该文建立固相萃取结合高效液相色谱-串联质谱技术(solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry,SPE-HPLC-MS/MS)测定蜂胶中氯霉素残留的检测方法。蜂胶样品经乙腈溶解,氢氧化钙溶液沉淀杂质,Bond Elut Plexa固相萃取柱(6mL,200mg)净化,Kinetex C18色谱柱(50mm×2.1mm,2.6μm)分离,以水-乙腈为流动相梯度洗脱分离,在负模式下,采用多反应监测(multiple reaction monitoring,MRM)模式检测,内标法定量。结果表明,氯霉素在0.1μg/L~500.0μg/L范围内线性关系良好(R2>0.99),检出限为0.4μg/kg,定量限为1.0μg/kg。氯霉素在蜂胶样品中添加水平为1、2、10μg/kg时平均回收率为93.2%~103.4%,日内和日间相对标准偏差分别为0.98%~3.95%和0.93%~5.37%(n=5)。该方法操作简便,耗时短,灵敏度高,稳定性好,适用于蜂胶中氯霉素残留筛查检测及定量分析。     

Determination and distribution of biogenic amines in bee pollen

The natural decomposition of proteins yields peptides and amino acids, which are susceptible to further decay, resulting in formation of biogenic amines (BAs) in proteinaceous foods such as bee pollen (BP). However, excessive consumption of BAs will bring side effects, so it is vital to study the presence of BAs in BP. In this study, a sensitive and reliable ultra ‐ high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric method was used for the determination of 12 BAs in BP. Large variations in the distribution and levels of BAs were observed with its total concentrations ranging from 6837.4 to 25444.2 μg kg^?1. In addition, the changes in the levels of BAs during storage and fermentation were preliminarily investigated. The results showed that fermentation significantly altered the quantities of BAs in rape BP, while changes during storage were modest. The results of this study could be applied for quality evaluation and risk assessment of BP in near future.     

Aflatoxins in animal feeds: A straightforward and cost-effective analytical method

In this paper, a procedure for the determination of aflatoxin B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂ in five different animal feedstuffs, intended to feed different mammalians and fowls, has been developed and validated. The method is based on a very simple solid–liquid extraction with acetonitrile and subsequent analysis by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection with post-column photochemical derivatization. The study carried out to optimize the extraction step, showed that using acetonitrile as extraction solvent provided not only satisfactory recoveries, but also extracts clean enough to omit a further clean up step. The method has been fully validated on five different matrices, and limits of quantification were below the allowed or recommended levels by European Union. Recovery studies were carried out at three different concentration levels, with values ranging from 81 to 105%; repeatability and intermediate precision showed relative standard deviations lower than 10% in all cases.     

Flavonoids,phenolic acids and abscisic acid in Australian and New Zealand Leptospermum honeys

Flavonoids, phenolic acids and abscisic acid of Australian and New Zealand Leptospermum honeys were analyzed by HPLC. Fifteen flavonoids were isolated in Australian jelly bush honey (Leptospermum polygalifolium), with an average content of 2.22 mg/100 g honey. Myricetin (3,5,7,3′,4′,5′-hexahydroxyflavone), luteolin (5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone) and tricetin (5,7,3′,4′,5′-pentahydroxyflavone) were the main flavonoids identified. The mean content of total phenolic acids in jelly bush honey was 5.14 mg/100 g honey, with gallic and coumaric acids as the potential phenolic acids. Abscisic acid was quantified as twice the amount (11.6 mg/100 g honey) of the phenolic acids in this honey. The flavonoid profile mainly consisted of quercetin (3,5,7,3′,4′-pentahydroxyflavone), isorhamnetin (3,5,7,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone 3′-methyl ethyl), chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone), luteolin and an unknown flavanone in New Zealand manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey with an average content of total flavonoids of 3.06 mg/100 g honey. The content of total phenolic acids was up to 14.0 mg/100 g honey, with gallic acid as the main component. A substantial quantity (32.8 mg/100 g honey) of abscisic acid was present in manuka honey. These results showed that flavonoids and phenolic acids could be used for authenticating honey floral origins, and abscisic acid may aid in this authentication.     

Progress towards wheat varieties with resistance to fusarium head blight

Many breeders are urgently trying to improve genetic resistance to fusarium head blight. Within a set of 17 varieties tested in 4 countries resistance seems to be stable across pathogen species and location and a reduction in disease appears to result in a proportional reduction in deoxynivale (DON) content. Breeding is a compromise between achieving improvements in yield, quality and resistance and many characters are technically difficult to handle, sometimes making progress slow. New technology is likely to increase the efficiency of this process and we hope to see better resistance to fusarium head blight in Europe within the next 10 years.     

稳定同位素技术在蜂蜜真实性溯源中的研究进展

蜂蜜作为一种纯天然的食品,因丰富的营养价值以及良好的保健功效而深受消费者喜爱。然而,随着近年来蜂蜜消费量的不断增多,蜂蜜掺假、以次充好等现象日益严重。因此,蜂蜜的真实性溯源研究也变得更为迫切。稳定同位素技术是食品真实性溯源的有效的技术之一,在蜂蜜的真实性溯源研究方面也有较多成果。本文综述了稳定同位素技术在蜂蜜掺假、产地鉴别、品种识别方面的研究进展并分析该技术的优点与不足,为进一步推进蜂蜜的真实性溯源研究提供参考。