Asparagine Analysis in Food Products

Here are the top five articles that the editors of LCGC International published this week.

Food contact materials contain low molecular weight additives and processing aids which can migrate into foods leading to trace levels of contamination. Food safety is ensured through regulations, comprising compositional controls and migration limits, which present a significant analytical challenge to the food industry to ensure compliance and demonstrate due diligence. Of the various analytical approaches, LC-MS/MS has proved to be an essential tool in monitoring migration of target compounds into foods, and more sophisticated approaches such as LC-high resolution MS (Orbitrap) are being increasingly used for untargeted analysis to monitor non-intentionally added substances. This podcast will provide an overview to this area, illustrated with various applications showing current approaches being employed.

Scientists from the University of Córdoba in Córdoba, Spain recently used liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to comprehensively profile human ceramides to determine their reactions to diseases.

Ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) had been previously proposed for untargeted lipidomics analysis, but this updated approach was reported by the authors to reduce run time to 4 min.

The serum/plasma estradiol is useful for diagnosis, pathology, and therapeutic efficacy monitoring of estrogen-dependent diseases, according to the authors.

Scientists from Anhui University of Chinese Medicine in Hefei, China recently investigated the mechanisms behind what makes huachansu tablets, a type of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), effective against liver cancer.