Abstract:
ObjectiveTo establish a method for simultaneous determination of four carotenoid pigments (canzthaxanthin, citranaxanthin, β-apo-8-carotenoic acid ethyl ester, β-apo-8-carotenal) in yolk by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).
MethodsYolk was extracted by acetonitrile, and then separated by Waters Xterra MS C18 column.Mass spectrometry used electrospray ionization positive ionization mode(ESI+) and multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) for determination with external standard method for quantification.
ResultsThe detection limit of the 4 carotenoid pigments were 2.5 ng/g.The method showed a good linearity over the range of 2.5~200 ng/g with r > 0.99.The average recoveries were in the range of 82.24%~109.2%, while the relative standard deviations (RSD) were 1.0%~3.0% (n=6).
ConclusionThe established method is highly sensitive and accurate, which is suitable for the detection of four carotenoid pigments in yolk.