Development of Novel Analytical Approaches for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Biogenic Amines and Antioxidants

Abstract

Biogenic amines (BAs) and antioxidant compounds are critical indicators of food safety and nutritional quality; however, their simultaneous determination in complex matrices remains analytically challenging. This study reports the development and validation of a novel, sensitive, and selective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous quantification of major biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine, putrescine, and cadaverine) and key antioxidants (ascorbic acid, gallic acid, and quercetin). The method employs pre-column derivatization using dansyl chloride to enhance the detectability of BAs, coupled with optimized gradient chromatographic conditions for efficient separation. The developed method exhibited excellent linearity (R² > 0.998), low limits of detection (0.01–0.05 µg/mL), and high precision (RSD < 3%). Accuracy was confirmed through recovery studies, yielding values between 92% and 105%. Application to real food samples demonstrated significant variation in analyte concentrations, with higher levels of BAs observed in fermented products and elevated antioxidant content in fruits. The results confirm that the proposed method is reliable, cost-effective, and suitable for routine analysis, providing a comprehensive tool for simultaneous assessment of food safety and nutritional quality.