Toxins (Jun 2015)

Analysis of Ergot Alkaloids

  • Colin Crews

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins7062024
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 6
pp. 2024 – 2050

Abstract

Read online

The principles and application of established and newer methods for the quantitative and semi-quantitative determination of ergot alkaloids in food, feed, plant materials and animal tissues are reviewed. The techniques of sampling, extraction, clean-up, detection, quantification and validation are described. The major procedures for ergot alkaloid analysis comprise liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FLD). Other methods based on immunoassays are under development and variations of these and minor techniques are available for specific purposes.

Keywords