Simultaneous quantitation of 17 female sex hormones in illegal products by validated liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry methods

Abstract

The consumption of food and drugs adulterated with female sex hormones can have an extremely adverse effect on human health. Therefore, developing appropriate monitoring methods for the identification of various exogenous female sex hormones is crucial for minimizing and eliminating the related health risks. Herein, 17 female hormones categorized into two groups: estrogen and progestin, were analyzed using reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap or triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The fragmentation patterns for all compounds were discovered, and fragmented structures were also derived from them through liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry followed by qualitative sample analysis. In addition, a quantitative analysis of 67 samples of illicit drugs and dietary supplements was performed using the validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Female hormone components were detected in two samples of an unauthorized injectable solution and a tablet-type drug. Medroxyprogesterone was detected in the samples in the range of 96.4-206 ng/g. Notably, eight components similar in structure to steroids were simultaneously detected as male sex hormones by confirming their fragmentation ion patterns using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. The developed methods thus offer a dependable and practically applicable approach for the screening and detection of exogenous female sex hormones in real food and drug samples to ensure public health.

Portable smartphone-enabled dydrogesterone sensors based on biomimetic polymers for personalized gynecological care

“…The most common analytical techniques are tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. 13–16 Although these techniques are highly sensitive and specific toward the target, due to the high-cost instrumentation, the requirement of well-trained technicians, and the longer analysis time, they are not suitable for clinical analysis. Therefore, the development of an alternative, sensitive, fast, and economical screening tool is essential for selective detection and routine monitoring of dydrogesterone.…”

Targeted quantitative analysis of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids in Alstonia scholaris by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry

“…Although low or unit resolution triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in selected reaction monitoring or multiple reaction monitoring mode is considered the "gold standard" in the quantitative analysis of small molecules [15,16], limitations, such as restricted detection number of analytes at the same time and confined selectivity caused by limited resolution, still exist [15,17]. In recent years, UHPLC coupled with highresolution MS (HRMS) has triggered new techniques for the quick qualitative and targeted quantitative analysis [18] of phytochemicals [11,19,20] and drugs [21,22]. The limitations in triple quadrupole mass spectrometer detection caused by a unit or low resolution can be compensated by the application of HRMS instruments [17].…”