Occurrence of Zearalenone-4-β-d-glucopyranoside in Wheat

Abstract

An LC-MS method was developed for the analysis of zearalenone-4-β-d-glucopyranoside and zearalenone in wheat (Triticum aestivum). The limit of determination for zearalenone-4-β-d-glucopyranoside and zearalenone was 10 μg/kg. The recovery rates were calculated to be 69% and 89% at a concentration of 100 μg/kg for zearalenone-4-β-d-glucopyranoside and zearalenone, respectively. Twenty-four Bavarian wheat samples from a 1999 harvest were analyzed. Zearalenone was present in 22 of 24 field samples, the levels ranged from 11 to 860 μg/kg. Zearalenone-4-β-d-glucopyranoside was found in 10 of the zearalenone positive samples (42%) at levels ranging from 17 to 104 μg/kg. The amounts of zearalenone-4-β-d-glucopyranoside were correlated to those of zearalenone (r ² = 0.86, b = 0.10). After gastrointestinal hydrolyzation, zearalenone-4-β-glucopyranoside might be implicated in the development of a zearalenone-syndrome. Therefore, more attention should be focused on conjugated mycotoxins in food and feed. Keywords: Zearalenone;zearalenone-4-β-d-glucopyranoside; wheat; LC-MS; conjugated mycotoxins