Quantification of hypoglycin A and methylenecyclopropylglycine in human plasma by HPLC-MS/MS

Abstract

Hypoglycin A (HGA) and methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG) are naturally-occurring amino acids known to cause hypoglycemia and encephalopathy. Exposure to one or both toxins through the ingestion of common soapberry (Sapindaceae) fruits are documented in illness outbreaks throughout the world. Jamaican Vomiting Sickness (JVS) and seasonal pasture myopathy (SPM, horses) are linked to HGA exposure from unripe ackee fruit and box elder seeds, respectively. Acute toxic encephalopathy is linked to HGA and MCPG exposures from litchi fruit. HGA and MCPG are found in several fruits within the soapberry family and are known to cause severe hypoglycemia, seizures, and death. HGA has been directly quantified in horse blood in SPM cases and in human gastric juice in JVS cases. This work presents a new diagnostic assay capable of simultaneous quantification of HGA and MCPG in human plasma, and it can be used to detect patients with toxicity from soapberry fruits. The assay presented herein is the first quantitative method for MCPG in blood matrices.

Methylenecyclopropylglycine and hypoglycin A intoxication in three Pére David's Deers (Elaphurus davidianus) with atypical myopathy

“…(2016) and Sanford et al. (2018) did not differentiate isomers during the analytical process. Both isomers appear to have different specifities for enoyl‐CoA‐hydratases 1 and 2 during the second step of β‐oxidation, which may affect the degrees of inhibition in the peroxisomes or mitochondria (Li et al., 1999; Wu et al., 2008).…”

“…As was shown in previous studies (Bochnia et al, 2019;Sander et al, 2019) HGA but not MCPrG (isomer 1 and 2) was mainly identified in the serum samples. Sander et al (2019) described two isomers of MCPrG, whereas Isenberg et al (2016) and Sanford et al (2018) did not differentiate isomers during the analytical process. Both isomers appear to have different specifities for enoyl-CoA-hydratases 1 and 2 during the second step of β-oxidation, which may affect the degrees of inhibition in the peroxisomes or mitochondria (Li et al, 1999;Wu et al, 2008).…”

Rare causes of emesis

“…Ingestion of Blighia Sapida, known as ackee fruit [8], originally from West Africa and Central America, can lead to metabolic syndrome, generally known as Jamaican vomiting sickness [9]. The unripened fruit may lead to profuse vomiting, convulsions, seizures, hypoglycemia and coma.…”

Evaluating the Effects of Drying Temperatures on the Nutritional and Bioactive Quality of Ackee Aril Apples

“…Ackee aril apples, a West African tree crop and Jamaica's national fruit hold immense economic and nutritional potential. The ackee tree belongs to the Sapindaceae family and thrives in well-drained soil (Sanford et al, 2018;Kakpo et al, 2020). It produces small, hermaphroditic flowers during warm months and can reach heights of 7-25 m. The fruit changes color as it ripens and splits into three sections, revealing the arillus/aril, a creamy fleshy part with a nutty flavor.…”