• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.466-473
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• 2018

An analytical method of sodium polyacrylate in processed food products was developed and monitored by using size-exclusion chromatography. GF-7M HQ column and UV/VIS detector were selected based on peak shape and linearity. Flow rate, column oven temperature, and mobile phase were selected as 0.6 mL/min, $45^{\circ}C$, and 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer of pH 9.0, respectively. Samples for analysis of sodium polyacrylate were extracted with 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer of pH 7.0 for 3 hr at $20^{\circ}C$ and 150 rpm. Analytical method validation revealed proper selectivity and calibration curve was selected in the range of 50-500 mg/L, and correlation coefficient of calibration curve was more than 0.9985. Limit of detection of sodium polyacrylate was 10.95 mg/kg and limit of quantification was 33.19 mg/kg. Accuracy and coefficient of variation for sodium polyacrylate analysis was 99.6-127.6%, 3.0-8.3% for intra-day and 94.3-121.9%, 1.3-2.6% for inter-day, respectively. Sodium polyacrylate was detected in 40 samples among monitored 125 processed food products. Detected contents were less than 0.2%, limited by the Food Additives Code. Results suggest the established size-exclusion chromatography method could be used to analyze sodium polyacrylate in processed food products.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.653-661
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• 2019

The first small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics have recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S., and the demand for a new RNA therapeutics bioanalysis method-which is essential for pharmacokinetics, including the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of siRNA therapeutics-is rapidly increasing. The stem-loop real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR) assay is a useful molecular technique for the identification and quantification of small RNA (e.g., micro RNA and siRNA) and can be applied for the bioanalysis of siRNA therapeutics. When the anti-HPV E6/E7 siRNA therapeutic was used in preclinical trials, the established stem-loop RT-qPCR assay was validated. The limit of detection was sensitive up to 10 fM and the lower limit of quantification up to 100 fM. In fact, the reliability of the established test method was further validated in three intra assays. Here, the correlation coefficient of $R^2$>0.99, the slope of -3.10 ~ -3.40, and the recovery rate within ${\pm}20%$ of the siRNA standard curve confirm its excellent robustness. Finally, the circulation profiles of siRNAs were demonstrated in rat serum, and the pharmacokinetic properties of the anti-HPV E6/E7 siRNA therapeutic were characterized using a stem-loop RT-qPCR assay. Therefore, the stemloop RT-qPCR assay enables accurate, precise, and sensitive siRNA duplex quantification and is suitable for the quantification of small RNA therapeutics using small volumes of biological samples.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2019

This study was aimed at investigating the levels of the natural preservatives of benzoic, sorbic and propionic acids in cereal grains, nuts and seeds. Benzoic and sorbic acid were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) and further confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), whereas propionic acid was analyzed using a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and further confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Benzoic, sorbic and propionic acids were found in 44, 22, and 550 samples out of 702 samples, respectively. From the total of 702 samples. The concentrations of benzoic, sorbic and propionic acid were ranged from not detected (ND) to 23.74 mg/L, from ND to 7.90 mg/L, and from ND to 37.39 mg/L in cereal grains, nuts and seeds, respectively. The concentration ranges determined in this study could be used as standard criteria in the process of inspecting cereal grains, nuts and seeds for preservatives as well as to address consumer complaints or trade disputes.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2019

It is difficult to analyze pymetrozine in citrus fruits using the hydromatrix method because of its low efficiency of purification and overlap of matrix and pymetrozine peaks. Liquid-liquid extraction can analyze pymetrozine in citrus fruits using dichloromethane. Since low pH interferes with the extraction of pymetrozine, the extracts of citrus fruits were maintained over pH 7.0 by adding borax buffer and 1 N NaOH in the improved method. According to the improved method, citrus fruits (such as lemon, lime, orange, tangerine, and grapefruit) were extracted and purified for HPLC-photo diode array analysis. The results of validation were as follows: $4.360{\mu}g/kg$ of limit of detection, $14.533{\mu}g/kg$ of limit of quantitation, and 0.007 mg/kg of method quantitative limit. Citrus fruits spiked with pymetrozine showed a recovery range from 71.8 to 83.7% and a coefficient of variation below 6%. Thus, the improved method can efficiently analyze pymetrozine in citrus fruits.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2019

An analytical method was developed for the determination of an antibiotic fungicide, kasugamycin, in agricultural products (hulled rice, potato, soybean, mandarin and green pepper) using liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Samples were extracted with methanol adjusted to pH 13 using 1 N sodium hydroxide, and purified with a HLB (hydrophilic lipophilic balance) cartridge. Linearity of a matrix-matched calibration curve using seven concentration levels, from 0.001 to 0.1 mg/kg, was excellent with a correlation coefficient ($R^2$) of more than 0.9998. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of instrument were 0.0005 and $0.001{\mu}g/mL$, respectively, and the LOQ of analytical method calculated as 0.01 mg/kg. The average recoveries at three spiking levels (LOQ, $LOQ{\times}10$, $LOQ{\times}50$, n=5) were in the range of 71.2~95.4% with relative standard deviation of less than 12.1%. The developed method was simple and all optimized results was satisfied with the criteria ranges requested in the Codex guidelines and Food Safety Evaluation Department guidelines. The present study could be served as a reference for the establishment of maximum residue limits (MRL) of kasugamycin and be used as basic data for safety management relative to kasugamycin residues in imported and domestic agricultural products.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.242-250
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• 2019

An analytical method was developed for the determination of fenquinotrione, a triketone herbicide, in agricultural products. Fenquinotrione was metabolized to KIH-3653-M-2 in plants. Analyte extraction was conducted using 2% formic acid in acetonitrile and cleaned up using a hydrophillic-lipophillic balance (HLB) cartridge. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.004 and 0.01 mg/kg, respectively. Matrix-matched calibration curves were linear over the calibration ranges ($0.001{\sim}0.1{\mu}g/mL$) into a blank extract with $r^2>0.99$. The recovery results for fenquinotrione and KIH-3653-M-2 ranged between 81.1 to 116.2% and 78.0 to 110.0% at different concentration levels (LOQ, $10{\times}LOQ$, $50{\times}LOQ$) with relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 4.6%. All values were corresponded with the criteria ranges requested in both the Codex (CAC/GL 40-1993, 2003) and MFDS guidelines (2016). Therefore, the proposed method can be used as an official analytical method for determination of fenquinotrione in the Republic of Korea.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2019

An analytical method was developed for the determination of fenpropimorph, a morpholine fungicide, in hulled rice, potato, soybean, mandarin and green pepper using QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) sample preparation and LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry). The QuEChERS extraction was performed with acetonitrile followed by addition of anhydrous magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride. After centrifugation, d-SPE (dispersive solid phase extraction) cleanup was conducted using anhydrous magnesium sulfate, primary secondary amine sorbents and graphitized carbon black. The matrix-matched calibration curves were constructed using seven concentration levels, from 0.0025 to 0.25 mg/kg, and their correlation coefficient ($R^2$) of five agricultural products were higher than 0.9899. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.001 and 0.0025 mg/kg, respectively, and the limits of quantification for the analytical method were 0.01 mg/kg. Average recoveries spiked at three levels (LOQ, $LOQ{\times}10$, $LOQ{\times}50$, n=5) and were in the range of 90.9~110.5% with associated relative standard deviation values less than 5.7%. As a result of the inter-laboratory validation, the average recoveries between the two laboratories were 88.6~101.4% and the coefficient of variation was also below 15%. All optimized results were satisfied the criteria ranges requested in the Codex guidelines and Food Safety Evaluation Department guidelines. This study could serve as a reference for safety management relative to fenpropimorph residues in imported and domestic agricultural products.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.298-309
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• 2021

In this study we sought to develop a simultaneous analysis method for cis-bixin and cis-norbixin, the main components, to detect annatto pigment in food. To establish the optimal test method, the HPLC analysis methods of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), and National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) were compared and reviewed. In addition, a new pretreatment method applicable to various foods was developed after selecting conditions for simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis in consideration of linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), and analysis time. The HPLC analysis method of NIFDS showed the best linearity (R² ≥ 0.999), exhibiting low detection and quantification limits for cis-norbixin and cis-bixin as 0.03, 0.05 ㎍/mL, and 0.097, 0.16 ㎍/mL, respectively. All previously reported pretreatment methods had limitations in various food applications. However, the new pretreatment method showed a high recovery rate for all three main food groups of fish meat and meat products, processed cheese and beverages. This method showed an excellent simultaneous recovery rate of 98% or more for cis-bixin and cis-norbixin. The HPLC analysis method with a new pretreatment method showed high linearity with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 1 for both substances, and the accuracy (recovery rate) and precision (%RSD) were 98% and between 0.4-7.9, respectively. From this result, the optimized analytical method was considered to be very suitable for the simultaneous analysis of cis-bixin and cis-norbixin, two main components of annatto pigment in food.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2021

For this study, we surveyed concentrations of 8 mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, ochratoxin A, fumonisin B1, B2 and zearalenone) in agricultural products used for food and medicine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and conducted a risk assessment. Samples were collected at the Yangnyeong Market in Seoul, Korea, between January and November 2019. Mycotoxins were extracted from these samples by adding 0.1% formic acid in 50% acetonitrile and cleaned up by using an ISOLUTE Myco cartridge. The method was validated by assessing its matrix effects, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), recovery and precision using four representative matrices. Matrix-matched standard calibration was used for quantification and the calibration curves of all analytes showed good linearity (r2>0.9999). LODs and LOQs were in the range of 0.02-0.11 ㎍/kg and 0.06-0.26 ㎍/kg, respectively. Sample recoveries were from 81.2 to 118.7% and relative standard deviations lower than 8.90%. The method developed in this study was applied to analyze a total of 187 samples, and aflatoxin B1 was detected at the range of 1.18-7.29 ㎍/kg (below the maximum allowable limit set by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, MFDS), whereas aflatoxin B2, G1 and G2 were not detected. Mycotoxins that are not regulated presently in Korea were also detected: fumonisin (0.84-14.25 ㎍/kg), ochratoxin A (0.76-17.42 ㎍/kg), and zearalenone (1.73-15.96 ㎍/kg). Risk assessment was evaluated by using estimated daily intake (EDI) and specific guideline values. These results indicate that the overall exposure level of Koreans to mycotoxins due to the intake of agricultural products used for food and medicine is unlikely to be a major risk factor for their health.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.544-551
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a simultaneous analytical method for berberine and palmatine, which are representative substances of Phellodendron amurense, and to evaluate the antioxidant activity. We evaluated the specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ) of analytical methods for berberine and palmatine using high-performance liquid chromatography. Our result showed that the correlation coefficients of the calibration curve for berberine and palmatine exhibited 0.9999. The LODs for berberine and palmatine were 0.32 to 0.35 µg/mL and the LOQs were 0.97 to 1.06 µg/mL, respectively. The inter-day and intra-day precision values for berberine and palmatine were from 0.12 to 1.93 and 0.19 to 2.89%, respectively. The inter-day and intra-day accuracies were 98.43-101.45% and 92.39-100.60%, respectively. In addition, the simultaneous analytical method was validated for the detection of berberine and palmatine. Moreover, we conducted FRAP and NaNO2 scavenging activity assays to measure the antioxidant activities of berberine and palmatine, and both showed antioxidant activity. These results suggest that P.amurense could be a potential natural resource for antioxidant activity and that the efficacy can be confirmed by investigating the content of the berberine and palmatine.