Development and Validation of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for the Determination of Histamine in Fish Samples Using Fluorescence Detection with Pre-column Derivatization

Stable fluorimetric detection of histamine using o-phthaldialdehyde derivatizing agent and surfactants in water-acetonitrile mixed solvent

A new analytical method for the rapid detection of histamine (HA) in beverages using fluorescence detection has been devised. It is primarily based on the use of o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) as a derivatizing agent. This unstable complex has been efficiently stabilized by addition of surfactants. The physicochemical variables that influence the sensitivity of the method and the fluorescence properties of the complex species in surfactant solutions have been optimized. Different surfactants were checked: the anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate, the cationic hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride and the nonionic tricosa(ethylene glycol)dodecyl ether C12E23. All surfactants stabilize the HA:OPA complex for long times. C12E23 provides excellent stability to the complex and higher fluorescence emission, allowing robust analysis conditions. Linear calibration curves allowing effective histamine determination and low limits of detection and quantification were established and the characteristics of the analysis method was validated. The correlation coefficient for histamine detection by fluorescence was 0.9978. The detection and quantification limits for histamine were 0.576 and 1.92 mg∙L-1, respectively.

Nanostructured WS2@Chitosan-Modified Screen-Printed Carbon Electrodes for Efficient Amperometric Detection of Histamine

Histamine, a pivotal chemical within certain cells of the human body, is responsible for eliciting various allergic symptoms, such as sneezing and a runny nose. In cases of allergies, where the immune system misidentifies typically harmless substances, such as certain foods or dust, as harmful, an efficient histamine sensor becomes imperative. This research introduces a novel sensing platform by employing a material comprising hydrothermally synthesized WS2 nanosheets and using this with a chitosan (CS) biopolymer on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPE). Integrating WS2 and CS components on the SPE via drop-casting synergistically enhances conductivity and various sensor properties. This novel hybrid material combines organic CS and inorganic WS2 components applied for nonenzymatic histamine detection via differential pulse voltammetry. This study also included crystallite size determination and surface morphology assessment through characterization of the synthesized WS2 nanosheets. On the surface of the SPE, WS2 and CS were drop-casted. It is recommended that histamine be electrochemically measured on modified WS2/CS/SPE electrodes. Histamine measurements were conducted within a linear coverage of 1-100 μM, with a limit of detection of 0.0844 μM and sensitivity of 1.44 × 10-4 mA/μM cm2. The developed sensor exhibited notable levels of sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and repeatability, along with an extended linear range. The sensing technique was consequently employed to detect the histamine levels in packed food items like fermented food samples (cheese, tomato sauce, tomato ketchup, and soy sauce) at room temperature (25 °C). The findings recommend the utilization of electrochemical sensing on modified WS2/CS/SPE electrodes for accurate histamine detection.

Recognition and detection of histamine in foods using aptamer modified fluorescence polymer dots sensors

Histamine has been known as a momentous cause of biogenic amine poisoning. Therefore, the content of histamine in foods is strictly required to be controlled within a certain range. Here, an aptamer fluorescent sensor was developed for detection of histamine. Poly [(9, 9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2, 7-diyl)-alt-(benzo [2,1,3] thiadia-zol-4, 8-diyl)] (PF8BT) and the styrene maleic anhydride copolymer (PSMA) were used for the preparation of PF8BT-Polymer dots (PF8BT-Pdots). PF8BT-Pdots and the cyanine3-phosphoramidite (Cy3) were linked through aptamer to achieve the ratiometric detection for histamine. PF8BT-Pdots were partly quenched by Cy3 due to the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), when the histamine molecule was recognized by aptamer on the surface of PF8BT-Pdots. A linear range (3-21 μmol/L) was obtained for histamine detection with a low limit of detection (LOD = 0.38 μmol/L). PF8BT aptamer Pdots (PF8BT-A) were used to detect histamine in simply treated aquaculture water and tuna. The cell imaging of HeLa cells presented a good biosecurity and outstanding fluorescent imaging capability of PF8BT-A. The aptamer fluorescent sensors provided a new platform for rapid and accurate detection of histamine in aquatic products and had great potential for the application in food safety and quality control.

Canavanine Content Quantification in Processed Bitter Vetch (Vicia ervilia) and Its Application as Flour in Breads: An Analysis of Nutritional and Sensory Attributes

Bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia Willd.) is a traditional Mediterranean-West Asian legume, mainly used as livestock feed because of its toxic non-proteinogenic amino acid, canavanine. However, historical sources suggest its past human consumption. Currently, bitter vetch is a minor crop confined to marginal soils in semi-arid regions, presenting a potential alternative protein source amid projected climate changes. This study evaluated the nutritional and sensory attributes of bitter vetch seeds processed through various household methods. Germination and cooking significantly reduced the canavanine content by 28% and 60%, respectively. Incorporating bitter vetch flour (BVF) into wheat bread enhanced protein and fiber contents without substantially altering carbohydrate and lipid levels, and the baking process reduced the canavanine content by 40%. Bitter vetch flour enriched the bread with iron and calcium, contributing significantly to their daily nutritional intakes. Sensory evaluations indicated positive reception for bread with 12% BVF, achieving a balance between nutritional enhancement and consumer acceptance. This study identifies bitter vetch seeds as a valuable resource for improving bread formulations with corrected gluten contents and enhanced protein quality, as measured using protein-digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) values. With strategic processing and formulation adjustments, bitter vetch has the potential to re-emerge as a feasible high-protein grain crop, promoting sustainable farming.

Experimental Design Application for Measuring Histamine in Tuna Fish Samples by Phenyl Isothiocyanate Derivation Method Using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Histamine as an important biogenic amino acid was measured in tuna fish samples by ultra-performance liquid chromatography using a phenyl isothiocyanate derivative. Minitab software was used to design the experiment and investigate the effective factors during the process, which includes screening and optimization steps. A partial factorial design was used in the screening stage and a central composite design was used in the optimization. Effective parameters in histamine derivatized were examined in the screening step including triethylamine volume, phenyl isothiocyanate volume, reaction temperature, reaction time and mobile phase pH. Then, in the optimization, effective parameters were identified and finally, the calibration curve was drawn from a concentration of 0.5-10.0 μg.mL-1 for histamine derivatized and a correlation coefficient of 0.994 was obtained for histamine derivatized. The method detection limit was 0.36 μg.mL-1 and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 1.19 μg.mL-1. The relative standard deviation of the method was obtained for concentrations of 1.0-100.0 μg.mL-1 in the range between 1.06 and 2.21%. The recovery method was obtained from 90.8 to 103.1% for measuring histamine derivatized in real fish samples.

Construction of SERS output-signal aptasensor using MOF/noble metal nanoparticles based nanozyme for sensitive histamine detection

Herein, a signal output SERS aptasensor for Histamine (HA) detection is designed. MIL-100(Fe) was loaded with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to form composite nanozyme MIL-100(Fe)@AuNPs, which was used in the reaction system TMB/H2O2. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized as "amplifier" for the SERS signal of ox TMB. After nucleic acid functionalization, the two parts were assembled to form the multifunctional substrate with both high catalytic and SERS efficiency. In the detection system, the specific binding effect of HA aptamer toward HA induced a decrease in the assembly of AgNPs on MIL-100(Fe)@AuNPs which caused a decrease in ox TMB SERS signals. The linear relation of HA ranged from 10-11 M to 5 × 10-3 M with LOD as low as 3.9 × 10-12 M. Recovery ratio in fermented soybean products (94.42-105.75 %) proved the real sample applicability. The fabricated SERS aptasensor will provide technical support for the safety during food processing and storage.

What Are We Eating? Surveying the Presence of Toxic Molecules in the Food Supply Chain Using Chromatographic Approaches

Consumers in developed and Western European countries are becoming more aware of the impact of food on their health, and they demand clear, transparent, and reliable information from the food industry about the products they consume. They recognise that food safety risks are often due to the unexpected presence of contaminants throughout the food supply chain. Among these, mycotoxins produced by food-infecting fungi, endogenous toxins from certain plants and organisms, pesticides, and other drugs used excessively during farming and food production, which lead to their contamination and accumulation in foodstuffs, are the main causes of concern. In this context, the goals of this review are to provide a comprehensive overview of the presence of toxic molecules reported in foodstuffs since 2020 through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) portal and use chromatography to address this challenge. Overall, natural toxins, environmental pollutants, and food-processing contaminants are the most frequently reported toxic molecules, and liquid chromatography and gas chromatography are the most reliable approaches for their control. However, faster, simpler, and more powerful analytical procedures are necessary to cope with the growing pressures on the food chain supply.

Inspecting Histamine Isolated from Fish through a Highly Selective Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor Approach

Numerous analytical approaches have been developed to determine histamine levels in food samples due to its health consequences. Consuming histamine over the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated 50 mg kg^-1 limit would result in chronic toxicity. Consequently, the present study discusses a novel electrochemical approach to evaluate histamine levels in fish products via a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on an electrode surface. The film was produced with electropolymerized polyurethane (PU), which maintained the histamine compound. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to verify the MIP manufactured in this study. The capability of the polymer was measured by assessing its electron shifts with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was also employed to validate the sensing method. The MIP/screen-printed electrode (SPE) and non-imprinted polymer (NIP)/SPE recorded a linear response ranging from 1 to 1000 nmol L^-1 at the 1.765 and 709 nmol L^-1 detection limits. The sensing technique was subsequently utilized to determine the histamine levels in selected samples at room temperature (25 °C). Generally, the sensor allowed the accurate and precise detection of histamine in the fish samples. Furthermore, the approach could be categorized as a simple technique that is low-cost and suitable for on-site detections.

Polyurethane Application to Transform Screen-Printed Electrode for Rapid Identification of Histamine Isolated from Fish

The toxicity of histamine has attracted numerous researchers to develop a method for histamine determination purposes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unequivocally prohibits the consumption of histamine above 50 mg·kg-1. Thus, an innovation in histamine detection in fish has been developed in this research. The investigation of the histamine level in fish has been conducted by using an electrochemical sensor approach and producing a polymer via molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on a screen-printed electrode. The technique was validated by assessing the shifts in electron shifting using the cyclic voltammetry (CV) approach and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), whereas differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was applied to validate the sensor method. The instruments showed a linear response ranging from 1-1000 nmol·L-1, with a detection limit of MIP/SPE at 1.765 nmol·L-1 and 709 nmol·L-1 for the NIP/SPE, respectively. The sensing technique was employed to determine the histamine level in selected samples at room temperature (25°C). The outcomes of this study indicated that the validated chemical sensor allowed accurate and precise detection of fish samples and can be categorized as a simple approach. The instrument is inexpensive and suitable for on-site detection.

Sensing materials for fresh food quality deterioration measurement: a review of research progress and application in supply chain

Fresh food are consumed in large quantities worldwide. During the supply chain, microbial growth in fresh food can lead to the production of a number of metabolites, which make food highly susceptible to spoilage and contamination. The quality of fresh food changes in terms of smell, tenderness, color and texture, which causes a decrease in freshness and consumers acceptance. Therefore, the quality monitoring of fresh food has become an essential part in the supply chain. As traditional analysis methods are highly specialized, expensive and have a small scope of application, which cannot be applied to the supply chain to realize real-time monitoring. Recently, sensing materials have received a lot of attention from researchers due to the low price, high sensitivity and high speed. However, the progress of research on sensing materials has not been critically evaluated. The study examines the progress of research in the application of sensing materials for fresh food quality monitoring. Meanwhile, indicator compounds for spoilage of fresh food are analyzed. Moreover, some suggestions for future research directions are given.

Pollution, Exposure and Risk of Biogenic Amines in Canned Sea Fish: Classification of Analytical Methods Based on Carbon Spheres QuEChERS Extraction Combined with HPLC

This study investigated the pollution characteristics, exposure levels and health risk assessments of seven kinds of biogenic amines (BAs) in eight varieties of canned sea fish products (n = 131) on the Chinese market. Carbon spheres QuEChERS mixed dispersion solid phase extraction combined with HPLC was used for the classification and analysis of batch samples. The average recovery of single BAs obtained by this method is 92.3~97.7%, and the relative standard deviation is 1.9~4.8%. Different varieties of samples have different degrees of pollution, the mass concentration of single BAs range 0.45~27.74 mg/kg, and the total concentration of ΣBAs range 18.77~368.50 mg/kg, of which the concentration of Σ4BAs range 11.53~368.50 mg/kg. The composition of four BAs is mainly putrescine, cadaverine, histamine and tyramine, which always play an important role in the exposure level and risk assessment of samples. The exposure level of BAs in the human body ranges 67.03~209.52 μg∙kg−1∙d−1. The health risk assessment shows that the gender trend of exposure risk level of BAs is male > female (young age), female > male (middle and old age), the age trend is young age > old age > middle age, and the regional trend is city > countryside. The food safety index of BAs in samples is 0.0062~0.0195, which is far less than 1, so the risk is within the controllable range.

Toward Oral Supplementation of Diamine Oxidase for the Treatment of Histamine Intolerance

A new diamine oxidase (DAO-1) was discovered recently in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica PO1f and investigated for its histamine degradation capability under simulated intestinal conditions. DAO-1 was formulated together with catalase as a sucrose-based tablet. The latter (9 × 7 mm; 400 mg) contained 690 nkat of DAO-1 activity, which was obtained from a bioreactor cultivation of a genetically modified Y. lipolytica with optimized downstream processing. The DAO-1 tablet was tested in a histamine bioconversion experiment under simulated intestinal conditions in the presence of food constituents, whereby about 30% of the histamine was degraded in 90 min. This amount might already be sufficient to help people with histamine intolerance. Furthermore, it was found that the stability of DAO-1 in a simulated intestinal fluid is influenced distinctively by the presence of a food matrix, indicating that the amount and type of food consumed affect the oral supplementation with DAO. This study showed for the first time that a microbial DAO could have the potential for the treatment of histamine intolerance by oral supplementation.

Fluorescence-SERS dual-mode for sensing histamine on specific binding histamine-derivative and gold nanoparticles

Histamine (His) is used as an indicator of seafood quality, but it can be toxic at high intakes. A fluorescence (FL)-surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) dual-mode assay system has been developed for His detection. The His detection method was established based on the specific binding capacity of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for the FL derivative of His and o-phthalaldehyde (OPA). In this strategy, His reacted with the OPA to form a Schiff base product (O-His) along with a change in FL and SERS activities. The usual nature of AuNPs could display a significant role both enhancement of SERS and quenching of FL signals. The current investigation displayed a good selectivity toward His over all other biogenic amines. Under the optimized analytical conditions, the SERS and FL intensity of the system were linearly proportional to the His concentration in the range of 0.05-4.5 mg/L and 1-20 mg/L with a detection limit of 0.04 mg/L and 0.32 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, the proposed method was successfully applied for His determination in seafood with promising results.

Histamine and Scombrotoxins

Histamine intoxications result when histamine-metabolizing enzymes are compromised or overwhelmed by dietary histamine in the human body. This can occur either due to metabolic enzyme deficiencies, such as in histamine intolerance to wines, aged cheese and other foods or from high concentrations of histamine following ingestion of decomposed fish. The presence of histamine in decomposed fish and fish products results from bacterial decarboxylation of free L-histidine following product mishandling. Consequently, histamine intoxications from mishandled fish, commonly referred to as scombrotoxin fish poisoning (SFP) or scombroid poisoning, require high levels of free L-histidine only found in certain species of pelagic fish. Differential diagnosis is required of clinicians since dietary histamine intoxications produce the same symptoms typical of release of endogenous histamine due to IgE -mediated seafood allergies or anisakiasis. Although high levels of dietary histamine are responsible for SFP, histamine has important physiological functions and tends to exert toxic effects only at doses beyond the physiological range. Endogenous histamine is essential to local immune responses, regulation of gastric acid secretion in the gut, and neurotransmission in the central nervous system. Scombrotoxins, postulated to explain histamine's augmented toxicity in scombrotoxic fish, are a milieu of histamine and other bioactives. Since time-and-temperature abuse is required to produce high levels of histamine in fish, management consists of ensuring proper handling by identifying hazards and critical control points (HACCP) and maintaining a "cold chain" from catch to consumption. Reference methods for detecting histamine have received increased attention and the European Commission has validated a popular precolumn dansylation-based HPLC method through inter-laboratory collaboration and studied method equivalence with the AOAC fluorescence method 977.13 recognized by Codex Alimentarius. Much progress has been made during the last decade in the development and validation of rapid screening methods for detecting histamine in food and especially in fish products. These include many innovative sensors and several validated commercial test kits, many of them based on a recombinant form of the enzyme histamine dehydrogenase (HD).

Rapid identification of histamine-producing bacteria isolated from fish using MALDI-TOF MS

Histamine-producing bacteria (HPB) produce histamine from histidine contained in food through the action of histidine decarboxylase. To identify HPB isolated from food, it is necessary to detect histamine produced by the bacteria. In this study, we concurrently identified HPB and detected histamine by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. After 24 h of incubation, 30 of 34 bacterial strains were correctly identified. Histamine was detected in all HPB cultured on Niven's medium, and 94% of HPB cultured in histidine broth, except for two strains with low histamine production. This method may greatly simplify the procedure and reduce the time required to identify HPB.

Influence of Sample Matrix on Determination of Histamine in Fish by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Coupled with Chemometric Modelling

Histamine fish poisoning is a foodborne illness caused by the consumption of fish products with high histamine content. Although intoxication mechanisms and control strategies are well known, it remains by far the most common cause of seafood-related health problems. Since conventional methods for histamine testing are difficult to implement in high-throughput quality control laboratories, simple and rapid methods for histamine testing are needed to ensure the safety of seafood products in global trade. In this work, the previously developed SERS method for the determination of histamine was tested to determine the influence of matrix effect on the performance of the method and to investigate the ability of different chemometric tools to overcome matrix effect issues. Experiments were performed on bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and bonito (Sarda sarda) samples exposed to varying levels of microbial activity. Spectral analysis confirmed the significant effect of sample matrix, related to different fish species, as well as the extent of microbial activity on the predictive ability of PLSR models with R² of best model ranging from 0.722–0.945. Models obtained by ANN processing of factors derived by PCA from the raw spectra of the samples showed excellent prediction of histamine, regardless of fish species and extent of microbial activity (R² of validation > 0.99).

Determination of biogenic amines in alcoholic beverages using a novel fluorogenic compound as derivatizing reagent

Biogenic amines (BAs) are organic nitrogenous compounds that are responsible for several biological events. If their concentration reaches the threshold level, it can cause mild to serious health problems in human. A novel bis-styrylphenyl Meldrum's acid derivative (BSMAD) was synthesized and served as a fluorescent turn-on pre-column derivatizing reagent for the quantitative analysis of BAs. A method for the determination of BA by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was established, which has a low detection limit (0.4 nmol L-1), excellent linearity (R 2 ≥ 0.9946) and repeatability (RSD ≤ 3.7% intra-day, RSD ≤ 5.8% inter-day). The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of BAs in several alcoholic beverages, including yellow wine, red wine, cooking wine, and beer. Satisfactory recoveries were obtained in the range of 94.6-100.5%. Compared with other methods, this pre-column derivatization method using BSMAD is simple, reliable, highly sensitive, and of low interference, providing an effective method for future studies of BAs in different matrices.

Selective post-column derivatization coupled to cation exchange chromatography for the determination of histamine and its precursor histidine in fish and Oriental sauce samples

Histamine is a biogenic amine that is formed from histidine by action of the enzyme histidine decarboxylase and can be toxic at high intakes. Thus, the quantification of these analytes in foods constitutes a significant axis of food safety. In this study we present the development, validation and application of a new method for the determination of histamine and its precursor histidine in fish products and oriental sauces. The analytes were separated rapidly through a cation exchange column using an acidic mobile phase (7 mmol L^-1 nitric acid) and reacted downstream with o-phthalaldehyde in post-column mode in the absence of nucleophilic reagents. The derivatives were detected spectrofluorimetrically at λ_ex/λ_em. = 360/440 nm. Following investigation of the chromatographic and post-column conditions, the method was validated as for its intended applications. The limits of detection were 0.16 and 0.17 μmol L^-1 for histidine and histamine respectively (ca. 0.1 mg kg^-1) and the precision was better than 5%. Various food samples were successfully analyzed without matrix interferences following minimal pretreatment. The percent recoveries ranged between 91.3 and 117.9%.

Development of a Rapid and Eco-Friendly UHPLC Analytical Method for the Detection of Histamine in Fish Products

We developed, validated, and confirmed with proficiency tests a fast ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD) method to determine histamine in fish and fishery products. The proposed method consists of two successive solid–liquid extractions: one with a dilute solution of perchloric acid (6%) and the second only with water. The instrumental analysis with UHPLC provides a very fast run time (only 6 min) with a retention time of approximately 4 min, a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 7.2 mg kg⁻¹, a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.2 mg kg⁻¹, a recovery around 100%, a relative standard deviation (RSD%) between 0.5 and 1.4, and an r² of calibration curve equal to 0.9995. The method detected optimal values of the validation parameters and required a limited number of reagents in comparison to other methods reported in the literature. Furthermore, the method could detect histamine in a very short time compared with other methods. This method, in addition to being validated, precise, specific, and accurate, avoids wasting time, money, and resources, and limits the use of organic solvents.

Development and Validation of a TLC-Densitometry Method for Histamine Monitoring in Fish and Fishery Products

Histamine poisoning is a significant public health problem. Therefore, the monitoring of histamine content in fish and fishery products is considered to be a crucial measure in the seafood industry. In the present study, a simple and rapid densitometric thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method for histamine determination in fish samples was developed and validated. The samples were homogenized with 10% trichloroacetic acid and histamine was efficiently extracted. Then, an appropriate derivatization procedure was adopted with dansyl chloride. Once the derivatization was carried out, the samples were applied to silica gel TLC plates and developed by ascending chromatography with chloroform-triethylamine (6:4, v/v) as the mobile phase. The intensity of the histamine-dansyl derivative spots was measured by densitometry at 365 nm, and the quantitation was performed by BIO-1D image processing software. The validation of this method revealed good linearity and specificity over a concentration range from 6.25 to 100 mg/kg. Adequate precision was shown by relative standard deviations (RSD) smaller than 4.82%, accuracy ranged from −6.88% to 5.28%, and satisfactory recoveries ranging from 93% to 105% were obtained. The Limit of Detection and the Limit of Quantification were calculated at 4.4 mg/kg and 10.5 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, the effectiveness of the proposed method was assessed by the analysis of various samples, and the obtained results were confirmed with those achieved by the HPLC-UV method. Moreover, the developed method was found to be simple, cheap, and suitable for application to analyze several samples simultaneously.