A study conducted by the Agriculture Research Centre of Giza, Egypt, and Jilin Agricultural University in China, evaluated the efficacy of stinging nettle extract, nettle smoke, and formic acid in the controlling of Varroa mites, a major threat to honeybee colonies, with a focus on mite infestation reduction, honeybee mortality, and biochemical responses. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to identify key bioactive compounds in the stinging nettle extract.
An Australian study used pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC–MS) to analyze the presence of plastic polymers in commercial and homemade composts. LCGC International spoke to Simran Kaur—a PhD candidate at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) at The University of Queensland in Woolloongabba, Australia—to find out more about her team’s findings.
Based on their hypothesis that smelling anxiety chemosignals can, like visual anxiety induction, lead to an increase in odor sensitivity, a joint study between the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Erlangen, Germany) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (Freising, Germany) combined behavioral experiments, odor profile analysis by a trained panel, and instrumental analysis of odorants (gas chromatography-olfactometry) and volatiles (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry).
A pilot study investigating whether nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinase (NADK) expression is selectively diminished in alcohol-associated liver cirrhosis (AC), as well as evaluating its potential as a biomarker for this condition, measured AC and non-AC (NAC). Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+) levels in human liver samples were measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
A joint study between the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) and the UC Davis West Coast Metabolomics Center (Davis, California) identified differentially regulated lipids in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity through the application of reversed-phase liquid chromatography-accurate mass tandem mass spectrometry (RP-LC-accurate MS/MS).
Saba Aslani from the University of Texas at Arlington spoke to LCGC International about a collaborative project with Northwestern University, the University of Hong Kong, and BioTools, Inc., investigating mirror-image cyclodextrins using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD).
A novel method called quantitative marinating (QM) was developed to reduce industrial waste during the processing of crayfish meat, with the taste, flavor, and aroma of crayfish meat processed by various techniques investigated. Headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) was used to determine volatile compounds of meat examined.
Researchers developing a plant microbial consortium that can repair in-situ high concentration TNT (1434 mg/kg) contaminated soil, as well as overcome the limitations of previous studies that only focused on simulated pollution, used untargeted metabolone gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to measure their success.
Researchers developing a plant microbial consortium that can repair in-situ high concentration TNT (1434 mg/kg) contaminated soil, as well as overcome the limitations of previous studies that only focused on simulated pollution, used untargeted metabolone gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to measure their success.
LCGC International's April series for National Cannabis Awareness Month concludes with a discussion with Walter B. Wilson from the National Institute of Standard and Technology’s (NIST’s) Chemical Sciences Division regarding recent research his team conducted investigating chromatographic interferences that can potentially inflate the levels of Δ9-THC in Cannabis sativa plant samples, and possible solutions to avoid this problem.
The United Kingdom banned menthol as a characteristic flavor in cigarettes in May 2020. Researchers tested cigarettes sold in 2021–2022 for menthol and other characterizing flavors through sensory and chemical testing, using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) in their research.
Researchers leveraged the advantages of thermodesorption, followed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC/TOF-MS), to compare and assess a variety of sampling phases for body odor.
Duodenal mucosal resurfacing (DMR), a new-style endoscopic procedure using hydrothermal energy to ablate this thickened layer, shows promise for enhancing glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes patients. However, the mechanisms driving these improvements remain largely unexplored. Researchers investigated the mechanisms by which DMR improves metabolic disorders using a rat model. Gut microbiota and metabolomics profiles were analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS).
A recent study conducted at the University of Georgia, (Athens, Georgia) presented a validated method for quantifying 18 terpenes in Cannabis sativa essential oil, extracted via hydrodistillation. The method, utilizing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) with selected ion monitoring (SIM), includes using internal standards (n-tridecane and octadecane) for accurate analysis, with key validation parameters—such as specificity, accuracy, precision, and detection limits—thoroughly assessed. LCGC International spoke to Noelle Joy of the University of Georgia, corresponding author of this paper discussing the method, about its creation and benefits it offers the analytical community.
Researchers used liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) in their proteomic analysis to compare the serum proteome of migraine patients with healthy controls and to identify differentially expressed proteins as potential migraine biomarkers.
Researchers investigating the relationship between cannabis use during pregnancy and depressive symptoms—and whether continued use beyond the first trimester or higher levels of use were linked to increased symptoms—used liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to confirm the presence of 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) in urine samples.
A combination of liquid chromatography ion mobility spectrometry, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC–IMS-HRMS) for non-targeted analysis (NTA) was used to detect and identify per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in alligator plasma.
A joint study conducted by the University of Ferrara (Italy) and the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (Rome, Italy) focused on the analysis of terpenes and terpenoids—key bioactive compounds responsible for the distinctive flavor and potential therapeutic effects of cannabis. For this study, the research team used comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS) coupled with dynamic headspace extraction (DHS) to profile these compounds in cannabis inflorescences. LCGC International spoke to Flavio A. Franchina of the University of Ferrara, corresponding author of the paper which resulted from this study, about their research.
Researchers evaluated the associations between serum lipidomic profile and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (SCA) in type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes, as well as in non-diabetic controls. Lipidomic analysis was conducted using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) to identify specific lipid species linked to the presence and severity of SCA across the three groups.
Research conducted by the Universitas Padjadjaran (Sumedang, Indonesia) focused on the measurement of vitamin K1 in various vegetables (specifically lettuce, cabbage, napa cabbage, and spinach) that were ingested by patients using warfarin. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with an ultraviolet detector set at 245 nm was used as the analytical technique.
Researchers conducted a study on medications used in psychiatry and neurology during the perinatal period, assessing how antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) affect placental functions, including transport mechanisms, nutrient transport, and trophoblast differentiation. Several quantitative methods, such as those for antianxiety and hypnotic drugs, were established to evaluate the safety of pharmacotherapy during breastfeeding using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS).
Researchers from the Department of Chemistry at Western Illinois University (Macomb, Illinois) conducted a study to optimize the separation of 18 cannabinoids for potency testing of hemp-based products, using liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (LC–DAD). As part of our monthlong series of articles pertaining to National Cannabis Awareness Month, LCGC International spoke to Liguo Song, the corresponding author of the paper stemming from this research, to discuss the study and its findings.
Researchers attempted to ascertain the relationship between vitamin D levels in athletes and the structural and functional values of their hearts assessed through electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters. Vitamin D levels were measured using high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS).
Frankincense essential oil is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and therapeutic properties. A recent study investigated the protective effects of the oil in an excision wound model in rats, focusing on oxidative stress reduction, inflammatory cytokine modulation, and caspase-3 regulation; chemical composition of the oil was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS).
A study in Food Science & Nutrition evaluated the antioxidant and preservative effects of Epilobium angustifolium extract on beef burgers, finding that the extract influenced physicochemical properties, color stability, and lipid oxidation, with higher concentrations showing a prooxidant effect.
Cinnamon and its byproducts have been used for many years because of their antidiabetic effect. In a joint study conducted by Gazi University (Ankara, Turkey) and Düzce University (Düzce, Turkey), high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analyses, macroscopic analyses, and enzyme inhibition assays on diabetes-related enzymes were performed on cinnamon samples to determine whether they are safe to use for health purposes.
As the organic tea industry grows, verifying its authenticity is essential for maintaining market stability. A recent study proposed a model for distinguishing organic tea from conventional varieties, with components (water extract, polyphenols, mineral element) of each type compared through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis.
A study conducted at Henan University of Science and Technology (Luoyang, China).aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetic profiles of milbemycin oxime in Pekingese dogs following a single oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) dose. Blood samples were collected at various time points, with milbemycin oxime concentrations measured using a validated high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with ultraviolet (UV) detection.
Research on plastics in aquatic environments is well-established, but little is known about their presence, pathways, and effects in soil ecosystems. The iMulch project aims to address this need as well as the growing concern of plastic pollution in soils. Focusing on developing and validating methods to detect micro- and macroplastics in soils and drainage waters, with an emphasis on how drainage water impacts municipal wastewater treatment, a key aspect of the study is analyzing plastic emissions from agricultural mulch films. We spoke to Carmen Wolf of the Institute for Environment and Energy, Technology and Analytics e.V. (IUTA) in Duisburg, Germany, corresponding author of a recent paper on the project, about the investigations involved and how separation science was used in their experimentation.
A pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) methodology has been specifically developed for the identification and quantification of seven polymers commonly found in tap water. The researchers responsible for the approach state that it prioritizes both time and cost efficiency without compromising the thoroughness of marker spectrum detection and confirmation.
