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Rapid Quantification Method of Three Alternaria Mycotoxins in Strawberries

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Abstract

Validation of simple and rapid method for three Alternaria mycotoxins determination including alternariol (AOH), alternariol methyl ether (AME) and tentoxin (TEN) in strawberries is described. The extraction procedure was based on a simple liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate, which provided the highest recoveries and the lowest matrix effect. Analytes were determinated by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The obtained relative recoveries were higher than 63 % for the studied mycotoxins in strawberries at the limit of quantification (LQ). Good linearity (r 2 > 0.993) and quantification limits (3–14 ng/g) were obtained. Repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, was always lower than 6 %, whereas interday precision was lower than 13 % for the developed method. The method was applied to analyse 24 strawberry samples commercialized in markets of the Valencia city (Spain). Analysed samples were only contaminated with AOH and AME.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (AGL2013-43194-P).

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Correspondence to Cristina Juan.

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This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (AGL2013-43194-P).

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Cristina Juan declares that she has no conflict of interest. Khaoula Chamari declares that she has no conflict of interest. Souheib Oueslati declares that he has no conflict of interest. Jordi Mañes declares that he has no conflict of interest. This is an original research article that has neither been published previously nor considered presently for publication elsewhere. All authors named in the manuscript are entitled to the authorship and have approved the final version of the submitted manuscript.

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Juan, C., Chamari, K., Oueslati, S. et al. Rapid Quantification Method of Three Alternaria Mycotoxins in Strawberries. Food Anal. Methods 9, 1573–1579 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-015-0338-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-015-0338-9

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