Analysis of CAP in Herbs and Grass Feed Using LC-MS

For the monitoring of CAP in products of animal origin, the most widely used approach is a liquid-liquid extraction with a relatively polar solvent sometimes—depending on the matrix—followed by a solid-phase extraction clean-up/concentration step. The final analysis applies the very selective and sensitive LC-ESI(-)-MS/MS system using UPLC. Detection concentrations are mostly far below the EU MRPL of 0.3 pg/kg. 

The LC-MS/MS analysis of plant materials has demonstrated that it is possible that plant materials can contain CAP. CAP was detected in plants of the families Artemisa or Thalictmm but was also detected in grass. It is known that the soil organism Streptomyces venezuelae and related organisms can biosynthesize CAP. Therefore it is suggested, from the results obtained, that CAP is produced in the soil and that the plants absorb CAP through their root systems. Eurther research is required to confirm this supposition and to elaborate the environmental parameters affecting CAP occurrence in plants. 

In 2002 residues of nitrofuran drugs were frequently detected in poultry and shellfish imported into the EU. Action was taken, and the MRPLs for nitrofuran metabolites in poultry meat and aquaculture products were set at 1 pg/kg in 2003. Nitrofuran metabolites are still found primarily in aquaculture products originating from Southeast Asia, with semicarbazide (SEM, the metabolite/marker of nitrofurazone) having the highest incidence.  

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