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Determination of ent-kaurene in subcutaneous fat of Iberian pigs by gas chromatography multi-stage mass spectrometry with the aim to differentiate between intensive and extensive fattening systems.

Narváez Rivas M, Rios JJ, Arteaga JF, Quilez JF, Barrero AF, León-Camacho M

Food Characterization and Quality Department, Instituto de la Grasa (C.S.I.C.), Av. Padre García Tejero 4, 41012 Seville, Spain.

This work presents a gas chromatography multi-stage mass spectrometry (GC-MS(3)) method for the determination of ent-kaurene in subcutaneous fat of Iberian pig, present in adipose tissue of animals due to pasture ingestion (extensive fattening system). The method comprises a saponification and a liquid-liquid extraction of the unsaponifiable fraction, followed by an isolation of the hydrocarbon fraction by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analysis by GC-MS(3) (ion trap) with electronic ionization. The GC-MS(3) analysis allows the isolation and characterization of specific fragments from the original (MS(1)) molecular structure, and particularly, those fragments originated from the precursor ion (m/z=229) characteristic of ent-kaurene. The MS/MS product fragment m/z=213 is used as a further precursor fragment giving rise to a MS(3) spectrum specific for ent-kaurene. The limit of detection of the MS(3) technique is lower than 0.2 microg kg(-1) and a linear regression has been found between 0.2 and 112 microg kg(-1). This method is applicable for the determination of the fattening system of the Iberian pig.

Published 18 August 2008 in Anal Chim Acta, 624(1): 107-12.
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