Authentication of pomegranate juice using multidimensional analysis of its metabolites.

With the growing popularity and demand of pomegranate juice, its adulteration has also steadily increased. In this study, to authenticate pure or adulterated juice, the major components of pomegranate juice were compared with those of grape, peach, and apple juices (which are common adulterants in pomegranate juice) using liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry, ion chromatography, and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. The various parameters evaluated were as follows: the ratio of malic acid to citric acid content, presence of tartaric acid, and levels of glucose, fructose, and mannitol, and sucrose. Potassium was the most abundant mineral in pomegranate juice, and the content ratio of other minerals/potassium did not exceed 0.1. The reliability of this method was confirmed in blind tests and monitoring experiments with commercial pomegranate juice. In conclusion, a simple and effective method was developed to detect adulteration in pomegranate juice.

Distribution Analysis of Twelve Mycotoxins in Corn and Corn-Derived Products by LC-MS/MS to Evaluate the Carry-Over Ratio during Wet-Milling.

This study investigated the distribution of twelve mycotoxins (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2; ochratoxin A; fumonisins B1 and B2; deoxynivalenol; nivalenol; zearalenone; T-2 toxin; and HT-2 toxin) in corn and corn by-products (corn bran, cornstarch, corn gluten, corn gluten feed, corn germ, light steep water, and corn steep liquor) produced by wet-milling in Korea. Fifty-two samples were collected from three factories producing cornstarch and other corn by-products. The samples were pretreated on an immunoaffinity column (IAC), and then the levels of the 12 mycotoxins were analyzed simultaneously by liquid chromatography-coupled triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Fusarium mycotoxins were mainly found in raw corn and corn gluten feed samples. Other mycotoxins-such as aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and HT-2 toxin-were detected in tiny amounts below the limit of quantification (LOQ) in cornstarch, corn germ, and corn bran. Ochratoxin A and nivalenol were mainly carried over into cornstarch. Aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, and the fumonisins were concentrated in corn gluten feed. Zearalenone was evenly distributed in all corn by-products except cornstarch during the milling process.