Biogenic amines analytical methods

Interlaboratory studies were carried out on the precision characteristics of the analytical methods used for determination of certain biogenic amines in fish and fish products, as required by German law. These included putrescine (4a), cadaverine (4b), tyramine (5) and histamine (6)78. 

Several analytical techniques including capillary electrophoresis, thin layer chromatography (TLC), GC, lEC, and HPLC, have been proposed for the determination of biogenic amines in various foods. Among these, RP-HPLC is considered the most suitable one. HPLC methods used for amine determination usually involve two steps amine extraction from the matrix and analytical determination. Depending on the complexity of food matrix and the selectivity of the final analytical determination, a further purification step may be necessary prior to the analytical determination. To ensure adequate sensitivity, a derivatization step is generally required before injection [282]. 

Onal, A. (2007). A review current analytical methods for the determination of biogenic amines in foods. Food. Chem., 103, 1475-1486. 

Many analytical techniques such as, radiochemistry, gas chromatography, and liquid chromatography have been developed for the determination of biogenic amines, their precursors, and metabolites. HPLC with electrochemical detection is considered to be one of the most popular methods for determining biogenic amines, owing to its simplicity, versatility, sensitivity, and specificity. 

Various mechanisms have been studied in relation to the inactivation of monoamines in insects, which include V-acetylation, oxidative deamination, ° 0-sulfate or (S-alanyl conjugation, and sodium-sensitive and sodium-insensitive uptake mechanisms. GC and MS properties were determined for a variety of biogenic amines as their DTFMB-TMS and DTFMB-TBDMS derivatives. Since the first application of HPLC-ED, it has become an increasingly important analytical tool on neuroscience. Recently, microbore HPLC-ED has become the method of choice for the determination of trace biogenic amines and their metabolites. 

Feier, U., and Goetsch, P. H. (1993). Inter-laboratory studies on precision characteristics of analytical methods. Determination of biogenic amines in fish and fish products—HPLC method. Arch. Lebensm. 44, 129-152. 

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