Determination of the major urinary metabolite of flurazepam in man by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of N-1-hydroxyethylflurazepam, the major urinary metabolite of flurazepam, in human urine is described. Urine specimens were incubated enzymatically to deconjugate N-1-hydroxyethylflurazepam glucuronide (metabolite) and were then extracted at pH 9.0 to extract the metabolite. The extracts were chromatographed on a microparticulate silica gel column using automatic sample injection, isocratic elution at ambient temperature and UV monitoring at 254 nm. The internal stanard was 7-chloro-5-(2′-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-1-2-dimethylaminoethyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2-one. The recovery from urine, in the 0.5–25.0 μg/ml range, was 96.5 ± 11.5% (S.D.), and the sensitivity limit was 0.5 μg/ml. The method was found to be specific for N-1-hydroxyethylflurazepam in the presence of intact flurazepam and other possible urinary metabolites of flurazepam. The method was successfully applied to urine specimens collected from human subjects following the administration of 30-mg single oral doses of flurazepam dihydrochloride.     

Direct analysis of salicylic acid,salicyl acyl glucuronide,salicyluric acid and gentisic acid in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography

A method for the simultaneous direct determination of salicylate (SA), its labile, reactive metabolite, salicyl acyl glucuronide (SAG), and two other major metabolites, salicyluric acid and gentisic acid in plasma and urine is described. Isocratic reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) employed a 15-cm C₁₈ column using methanol-acetonitrile-25 mM acetic acid as the mobile phase, resulting in HPLC analysis time of less than 20 min. Ultraviolet detection at 310 nm permitted analysis of SAG in plasma, but did not provide sensitivity for measurement of salicyl phenol glucuronide. Plasma or urine samples are stabilized immediately upon collection by adjustment of pH to 3–4 to prevent degradation of the labile acyl glucuronide metabolite. Plasma is then deproteinated with acetonitrile, dried and reconstituted for injection, whereas urine samples are simply diluted prior to injection on HPLC. m-Hydroxybenzoic acid served as the internal standard. Recoveries from plasma were greater than 85% for all four compounds over a range of 0.2–20 μg/ml and linearity was observed from 0.1–200 μg/ml and 5–2000 μg/ml for SA in plasma and urine, respectively. The method was validated to 0.2 μg/ml, thus allowing accurate measurement of SA, and three major metabolites in plasma and urine of subjects and small animals administered salicylates. The method is unique by allowing quantitation of reactive SAG in plasma at levels well below 1% that of the parent compound, SA, as is observed in patients administered salicylates.     

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of anisodamine and its phase I and II metabolites in rat urine

A sensitive and specific method for the analysis of anisodamine and its metabolites in rat urine by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed. Various extraction techniques (free fraction, acid hydrolyses and enzyme hydrolyses) and their comparison were carried out for investigation of the metabolism of anisodamine. After extraction procedure the pretreated samples were injected on a reversed-phase C18 column with mobile phase (0.2 ml/min) of methanol/0.01% triethylamine solution (adjusted to pH 3.5 with formic acid) (60:40, v/v) and detected by MS/MS. Identification and structural elucidation of the metabolites were performed by comparing their changes in molecular masses (DeltaM), retention-times and full scan MS(n) spectra with those of the parent drug. At least 11 metabolites (N-demethyl-6beta-hydroxytropine, 6beta-hydroxytropine, tropic acid, N-demethylanisodamine, hydroxyanisodamine, anisodamine N-oxide, hydroxyanisodamine N-oxide, glucuronide conjugated N-demethylanisodamine, sulfate conjugated and glucuronide conjugated anisodamine, sulfate conjugated hydroxyanisodamine) and the parent drug were found in rat urine after the administration of a single oral dose 25mg/kg of anisodamine. Hydroxyanisodamine, anisodamine N-oxide and the parent drug were detected in rat urine for up 95 h after ingestion of anisodamine.     

Detection and Pharmacokinetics of Alginate Oligosaccharides in Mouse Plasma and Urine after Oral Administration by a Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Method

A sensitive and simple liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the detection of alginate oligosaccharides (AOs) in mouse plasma and urine after oral administration. In an AO mixture, dimer, trimer, and tetramer were detected by LC-MS/MS equipped with an anion-exchange column with extremely high sensitivity. By this method, we detected certain levels of AOs in samples prepared from mouse plasma and urine after a single oral administration of the AO mixture. Based on a calibration curve made with an AO trimer peak area as a standard, the maximum plasma and urine concentrations of AOs were estimated to be 24.5 μg/ml at 5 min and 425.5 μg/ml at 30 min, respectively. These results suggest that the LC-MS/MS method is well suited to pharmacokinetic analysis of AOs in an in vivo system, and that some of orally administered AOs, at least from dimer to tetramer, are absorbed by digestive organs promptly, and that unaltered, these oligomers were excreted into an urine after a single oral administration to a mouse.     

Simultaneous determination of a new anticancer agent (NB-506) and its active metabolite in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detection has been developed to quantify NB-506 and its active metabolite in human plasma and urine. This method is based on solid-phase extraction, thereby allowing the simultaneous measurement of the drug and metabolite with the limit of quantification of 0.01 μg/ml in plasma and 0.1 μg/ml in urine. Standard curves for the compounds were linear in the concentration ranges investigated. The range for the drug in plasma was 0.01–2.5 μg/ml, and for the metabolite 0.01–1 μg/ml. In urine, the range for both compounds was 0.1–10 μg/ml. The method was validated and applied to the assay of plasma and urinary samples from phase I studies.     

Determination of 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA free acid) in rat plasma, urine and feces by liquid chromatography with UV and tandem mass spectrometric detection

BAPTA free acid was identified as the main metabolic product of 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetra(actoxymethyl ester) (BAPTA-AM), a neuroprotective agent in cerebral ischemia, in rats. In this paper, liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (LC-UV) and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods were employed for the determination of BAPTA free acid in rat urine and feces and rat plasma, respectively. By liquid-liquid extraction and LC-UV analysis, a limit of quantitation of 1000 ng/ml using 0.2 ml rat urine for extraction and 250 ng/ml using 1 ml rat fecal homogenate supernatant for extraction could be reached. The assay was linear in the range of 1000-50,000 ng/ml for rat urine and 250-10,000 ng/ml for rat fecal homogenate supernatant. Because the sensitivity of the LC-UV method was apparently insufficient for evaluating the pharmacokinetic profile of BAPTA in rat plasma, a LC-MS/MS method was subsequently developed for the analysis of BAPTA free acid. By protein precipitation and LC-MS/MS analysis, the limit of quantitation was 5 ng/ml using 0.1 ml rat plasma and the linear range was 5.0-500 ng/ml. Both methods were validated and can be used to support a thorough preclinical pharmacokinetic evaluation of BAPTA-AM liposome injection.     

Isolation,identification and determination of sulfadiazine and its hydroxy metabolites and conjugates from man and Rhesus monkey by high-performance liquid chromatography

The following metabolites of sulfadiazine (S) were isolated from monkey urine by preparative HPLC: 5-hydroxysulfadiazine (5OH), 4-hydroxysulfadiazine (4OH) and the glucuronide (5OHgluc) and sulfate conjugate of 5OH (5OHsulf). The compounds were identified by NMR, mass and infrared spectrometry and hydrolysis by β-glucuronidase. The analysis of S, the hydroxymetabolites (4OH, 5OH) and conjugates N₄-acetylsulfadiazine (N₄), 5OHgluc and 5OHsulf in human and monkey plasma and urine samples was performed using reversed-phase gradient HPLC with UV detection. In plasma, S and N₄ could be detected in high concentrations, whereas the other metabolites were present in only minute concentrations. In urine, S, the metabolites and conjugates were present. The limit of quantification of the compounds in plasma varies between 0.2 and 0.6 μg/ml (S 0.31, N₄ 0.40, 4OH 0.20, 5OH 0.37, 5OHgluc 0.33 and 5OHsulf 0.57 μg/ml). In urine it varies between 0.6 and 1.1 μg/ml (S 0.75, N₄ 0.80, 4OH 0.60, 5OH 0.80, 5OHgluc 0.80 and 5OHsulf 1.1 μg/ml). The method was applied to studies with healthy human subjects and Rhesus monkeys. The metabolites 5OH, 5OHgluc and 5OHsulf were present in Rhesus monkey and not in man. Preliminary results of studies of metabolism and pharmacokinetics in Rhesus monkey and man are presented.     

Quantification of the alpha- and gamma-tocopherol metabolites 2,5,7, 8-tetramethyl-2-(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman and 2,7, 8-trimethyl-2-(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman in human serum.

alpha- and gamma-tocopherol are the major vitamin E compounds found in human blood and tissues. The metabolites are 2,5,7, 8-tetramethyl-2-(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman (alpha-CEHC) and 2,7,8-trimethyl-2-(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman (gamma-CEHC, LLU-alpha), respectively. alpha-CEHC is excreted mainly as glucuronide or sulfate conjugates in the urine. Here we describe a sensitive and reliable method to analyze alpha- and gamma-CEHC in human serum. The concentration of alpha-CEHC in human serum is in the range of 5-10 pmol/ml but increases significantly up to 200 pmol/ml upon supplementation with RRR-alpha-tocopherol. About one-third of the alpha-CEHC circulating in the blood is present as a glucuronide conjugate. Baseline levels of gamma-CEHC are about 50 to 85 pmol/ml.     

Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry for analysis of mesocarb and its metabolites in human urine

A method is described for the determination of metabolites of mesocarb in human urine by combining gradient liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization (ESI)-ion trap mass spectrometry. Seven metabolites (two isomers of hydroxymesocarb, p-hydroxymesocarb, two isomers of dihydroxymesocarb and two isomers of trihydroxymesocarb) and parent drug were detected in human urine after the administration of a single oral dose 10 mg of mesocarb (Sydnocarb, two tablets of 5 mg). Various extraction techniques (free fraction, enzyme hydrolyses and acid hydrolyses) and their comparison were carried out for investigation of the metabolism of mesocarb. After extraction procedure the residue was dissolved in methanol and injected into the column HPLC (Zorbax SB-C18 (Narrow-Bore 2.1 x 150 mm i.d., 5 microm particles)) with mobile phase (0.2 ml/min) of methanol/0.2 mM ammonium acetate. Conformation of the results and identification of all metabolites are performed by LC-MS and LC-MS/MS. The major metabolites of mesocarb in urine of the human were p-hydroxylated derivative of the phenylcarbamoyl group of the parent drug (p-hydrohymesocarb) and dihydroxylated derivative of mesocarb (two isomers of dihydroxymesocarb). This analytical method for dihydrohymesocarb was very sensitive for discriminating the ingestion of mesocarb longer than the parent drug or other metabolites in human urine. The dihydroxymesocarb was detected in urine until 168-192 h after administration of the drug.     

Simultaneous determination of thienorphine and its active metabolite thienorphine glucuronide in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and its application to pharmacokinetic studies

A simple, sensitive and reliable method was developed to determine simultaneously the concentrations of thienorphine and its metabolite thienorphine glucuronide conjugate in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The metabolite was identified by MS: thienorphine glucuronide conjugate. Sample preparation involved protein precipitation with methanol. Analytes were separated on Finnigan BetaBasic-18 column (150 mm x 2.1mm i.d., 5 microm) using methanol: water: formic acid (56:44:0.1, v/v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.2 ml/min. The method had a linear calibration curve over the concentration range of 0.1-50 ng/ml for thienorphine and 2-1000 ng/ml for thienorphine glucuronide conjugate, respectively. LOQ of thienorphine and thienorphine glucuronide conjugate was 0.1 and 2 ng/ml, respectively. The intra- and inter-batch precisions were less than 12% and their recoveries were greater than 80%. Pharmacokinetic data of thienorphine and its metabolite thienorphine glucuronide conjugate obtained with this method following a single oral dose of 3mg/kg thienorphine to rats were also reported for the first time.     

Structures of (-)-epicatechin glucuronide identified from plasma and urine after oral ingestion of (-)-epicatechin: differences between human and rat

(-)-epicatechin is one of the most potent antioxidants present in the human diet. Particularly high levels are found in black tea, apples, and chocolate. High intake of catechins has been associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. There have been several reports concerning the bioavailability of catechins, however, the chemical structure of (-)-epicatechin metabolites in blood, tissues, and urine remains unclear. In the present study, we purified and elucidated the chemical structure of (-)-epicatechin metabolites in human and rat urine after oral administration. Three metabolites were purified from human urine including (-)-epicatechin-3'-O-glucuronide, 4'-O-methyl-(-)-epicatechin-3'-O-glucuronide, and 4'-O-methyl-(-)-epicatechin-5 or 7-O-glucuronide, according to 1H- and 13C-NMR, HMBC, and LC-MS analyses. The metabolites purified from rat urine were 3'-O-methyl-(-)-epicatechin, (-)-epicatechin-7-O-glucuronide, and 3'-O-methyl-(-)-epicatechin-7-O-glucuronide. These compounds were also detected in the blood of humans and rats by LC-MS. The presence of these metabolites in blood and urine suggests that catechins are metabolized and circulated in the body after administration of catechin-containing foods.     

Identification of potassium dehydroandrographolidi succinas and its major metabolites in rat urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid, sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method has been developed for identification of potassium dehydroandrographolidi succinas and its metabolites in rat urine. Five male rats were administrated a single dose (100 mg/kg) of potassium dehydroandrographolidi succinas by i.v. injection. The urine were sampled from 0 to 24 h and purified by using Oasis? HLB extraction cartridge, then the purified urine samples were separated on a reversed-phase C18 column with a linear gradient and detected by an on-line MS detector. Identification and structural elucidation of the metabolites were performed by comparing their changes in molecular mass (Δm) and MS/MS spectra with those of the parent drug. Seven metabolites and the parent drug were found in rat urine. All these metabolites were reported for the first time.     

Structural characterization of metabolites of salvianolic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza in normal and antibiotic-treated rats by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

This study was conducted to compare the in vivo metabolites of salvianolic acid B (Sal B) between normal rats and antibiotic-treated rats and to clarify the role of intestinal bacteria on the absorption, metabolism and excretion of Sal B. A valid method using LC-MS(n) analysis was established for identification of rat biliary and fecal metabolites. And isolation of normal rat urinary metabolites by repeated column chromatography was applied in this study. Four biliary metabolites and five fecal metabolites in normal rats were identified on the basis of their MS(n) fragmentation patterns. Meanwhile, two normal rat urinary metabolites were firstly identified on the basis of their NMR and MS data. In contrast, no metabolites were detected in antibiotic-treated rat urine and bile, while the prototype of Sal B was found in antibiotic-treated rat feces. The differences of in vivo metabolites between normal rats and antibiotic-treated rats were proposed for the first time. Furthermore, it was indicated that the intestinal bacteria showed an important role on the absorption, metabolism and excretion of Sal B. This investigation provided scientific evidence to infer the active principles responsible for the pharmacological effects of Sal B.     

Detection of new exemestane metabolites by liquid chromatography interfaced to electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry

Exemestane is an irreversible aromatase inhibitor used for anticancer therapy. Unfortunately, this drug is also misused in sports to avoid some adverse effects caused by steroids administration. For this reason exemestane has been included in World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list. Usually, doping control laboratories monitor prohibited substances through their metabolites, because parent compounds are readily metabolized. Thus metabolism studies of these substances are very important. Metabolism of exemestane in humans is not clearly reported and this drug is detected indirectly through analysis of its only known metabolite: 17β-hydroxyexemestane using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This drug is extensively metabolized to several unknown oxidized metabolites. For this purpose LC-MS/MS has been used to propose new urinary exemestane metabolites, mainly oxidized in C6-exomethylene and simultaneously reduced in 17-keto group. Urine samples from four volunteers obtained after administration of a 25mg dose of exemestane were analyzed separately by LC-MS/MS. Urine samples of each volunteer were hydrolyzed followed by liquid-liquid extraction and injected into a LC-MS/MS system. Three unreported metabolites were detected in all urine samples by LC-MS/MS. The postulated structures of the detected metabolites were based on molecular formulae composition obtained through high accuracy mass determination by liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF MS) (all mass errors below 2ppm), electrospray (ESI) product ion spectra and chromatographic behavior.     

Gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry studies on the metabolism of the synthetic phenylacetylindole cannabimimetic JWH-250, the psychoactive component of smoking mixtures

Prohibition of some synthetic cannabimimetics (e.g., JWH-018, JWH-073 and CP 47497) in a number of countries has led to a rise in new compounds in herbal mixtures that create marijuana-like psychotropic effects when smoked. The cannabimimetic JWH-250 (1-pentyl-3-(2-methoxyphenylacetyl)indole) was identified in May 2009 by the German Federal Criminal Police as an new ingredient in herbal smoking mixtures. The absence or low presence of the native compound in urine samples collected from persons who had consumed JWH-250 necessitates a detailed identification of their metabolites, which are excreted with urine and present in blood. Using gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS and LC-MS/MS), we identified a series of metabolites in urine samples and serum sample from humans and urine samples from rats that were products of the following reactions: (a) mono- and dihydroxylation of aromatic and aliphatic residues of the parent compound, (b) trihydroxylation and dehydration of the N-alkyl chain, (c) N-dealkylation and (d) N-dealkylation and monohydroxylation. The prevailing urinary metabolites in humans were the monohydroxylated forms, while N-dealkylated and N-dealkyl monohydroxylated forms were found in rats. The detection of the mono- and dihydroxylated metabolites of JWH-250 in urine and serum samples by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS proved to be effective in determining consumption of this drug.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of licochalcone A and its metabolites in biological fluids

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the analysis of the novel antiparasitic agent, licochalcone A (Lica), and three of its glucuronic acid conjugates in plasma and urine. The high-performance liquid chromatography assay was performed using gradient elution and UV detection at 360 nm. The proposed technique is selective, reliable and sensitive. The limits of quantification for Lica are 0.2 μg/ml in plasma and 0.14 μg/ml in urine, 1.2 μg/ml for the 4′-glucuronide in plasma and 1.4 μg/ml in urine, and 2.0 μg/ml for the 4-glucuronide in plasma and 3.2 μg/ml in urine. The reproducibility of the analytical method according to the statistical coefficients is 7% or below. The accuracy of the method is good, that is, the relative error is below 10%. The stability of Lica and its glucuronides in urine and plasma samples has been assessed during storage in the autosampler and freezer. The applicability of the assay for determining Lica and its intact glucuronide conjugates in biological fluids was shown using a single dose study in rat.     

A LC-MS/MS method for the specific, sensitive, and simultaneous quantification of 5-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen

Accurate determinations of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG) in physiologic fluids are required for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of acute porphyrias. Current colorimetric methods are insensitive and over-estimate ALA and PBG due to poor specificity, while LC-MS/MS methods increase sensitivity, but have limited matrices. An LC-MS/MS method was developed to simultaneously determine ALA and PBG concentrations in fluids or tissues which were solid phase extracted, butanol derivatized, and quantitated by selective reaction monitoring using (13)C(5), (15)N-ALA and 2,4-(13)C(2)-PBG internal standards. ALA was separated from interfering compounds on a reverse phase C8-column. For ALA and PBG, the matrix effects (87.3-105%) and process efficiencies (77.6-97.8% and 37.2-41.6%, respectively) were acceptable in plasma and urine matrices. The assay was highly sensitive for ALA and PBG (LLOQ=0.05 μM with 25 μL urine or 100 μL plasma), and required ～4 h from extraction to results. ALA and PBG accuracy ranged from 88.2 to 110% (n=10); intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variations were <10% for urine and plasma. In clinical applications, patients with mutation-confirmed acute porphyrias had normal to slightly increased urinary ALA and PBG levels when asymptomatic, and high levels during acute attacks, which decreased with hemin therapy. In AIP mice, baseline ALA and PBG levels in urine, plasma, and liver were increased after phenobarbital induction 28-/63-, 42-/266-, and 13-/316-fold, respectively. This LC-MS/MS method is rapid, specific, highly sensitive, accurate, and simultaneously measures ALA and PBG in urine, plasma, and tissues permitting porphyria clinical diagnoses, therapeutic monitoring, and research.     

Enzyme-assisted synthesis and structure characterization of glucuronide conjugates of eleven anabolic steroid metabolites

Enzyme-assisted in vitro synthesis of eleven glucuronide-conjugated anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) metabolites was performed using biphenyl-induced rat liver microsomal enzymes. The substrates within the study were the main compounds and metabolites detected in human urine after dosing of, e.g. metandienone, metenolone, methyltestosterone, nandrolone, and testosterone. Yields of glucuronidation reactions were 13-28% for most compounds, but significantly higher (77-78%) for the substrates with 4-ene-3-one double bond system of the steroid A-ring. Characterization of glucuronide-conjugated AAS structures was based on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H NMR) and on liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric (LC-MS) and tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analyses in positive and negative ion mode electrospray ionization (ESI). Only minor differences were observed in optimal synthesis conditions between various substrates, which offer a potential to apply this in vitro assay as a default method for glucuronidation of new AAS substrates. The method allowed for a rapid production pathway of stereochemically pure AAS glucuronides in milligram amount, such as needed, e.g. in the development of analytical methods in forensic or pharmaceutical sciences, as well as in doping control.     

Simultaneous determination of glucuronides of trimetozine in human urine by gas chromatography

A gas chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of four glucuronides (metabolites) of trimetozine excreted in human urine is described. The methodinvolves pretreatment of the urine specimen [i.e. removal of interfering substances by solvent extraction, desalting on an ion-exchange (Amberlite XAD-2) column], and permethylation of glucuronides by reaction with methylsulfinyl carbanion and methyl iodide. The permethylated derivatives were submitted to gas chromatographic separation on an OV-17 column, and their structures were investigated by subsequent gas chromatographic—mass spectrometric analysis. The minimum detectable concentration of each glucuronide is 5 μg/ml when 1 ml of urine is used. The utility of the present method is successfully demonstrated by determining the urinary concentration of four glucuronides following oral administration of trimetozine to human subjects.     

HPLC/MS analysis of fusarium mycotoxins, fumonisins and deoxynivalenol

Fusarium fungi are widely found in agricultural products, worldwide and can produce a great variety of mycotoxins. Fumonisins, produced by F. moniliforme, and deoxynivalenol, produced by F. graminearum, are two such mycotoxins that have received considerable attention as food safety concerns by regulatory agencies. High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (HPLC/MS) was found to be a convenient analytical method to detect and quantify the naturally occurring fumonisin homologs and deoxynivalenol in extracts from grains and food products. The fumonisins are detected primarily as protonated molecules in the positive ion electrospray ionization (ESI) mode as they elute from a C-18 reverse phase column during a methanol water gradient containing acetic acid to facilitate chromatography. Deoxynivalenol can be detected as positive or negative ions in the atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mode or in the negative ion ESI mode. One nanogram amounts of fumonisins or deoxynivalenol injected into the HPLC system are easily detected with signal to noise allowing detection limits of 1 microg g(-1) or better to easily be achieved with minimal clean-up of grain extracts.