Work

Supramolecular Solvent-Based Extraction of Bisphenols and Alkylphenols in Botanical Dietary Supplements Prior to HPLC–MS/MS Analysis

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Dietary supplements provide essential nutrients and bioactive compounds that enhance health and traditional therapies. However, the quality and composition of these supplements can vary significantly, potentially containing inconsistent levels of active ingredients or undisclosed risk substances. Due to the current extensive industrial applications, bisphenols (BPs) and alkylphenols (APs) have become environmentally ubiquitous. Substantial evidence indicates that these compounds exhibit endocrine-disrupting properties, posing potential health risks to humans. The detection of trace-level BPs and APs in dietary supplements is critical. This study developed a supramolecular solvent (SUPRAS) from a water/THF/1-hexanol system under mild conditions for analyzing 19 BPs and APs in commercial botanical dietary supplements. After optimizing SUPRAS preparation and extraction parameters, we established a SUPRAS-HPLC-MS/MS method enabling one-step extraction/cleanup within 10 min for tablets, capsules, and oral liquids, with high sensitivity and simplicity. The method scored 0.71 (out of 1) on the AGREE metric, confirming its green profile. Detectable levels of bisphenol A (178.7-452.6 μg/kg) and 4-pentylphenol (145.3 μg/kg) in marketed products highlight potential health risks from botanical dietary supplement-derived exposure.

Source: Foods

DOI: 10.3390/foods14213768

Authors: Yalei Dong, Huijun Liu, Yasen Qiao, Haiyan Wang

Institutions: National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing University of Agriculture

Language: English

Topic: Analytical chemistry methods development

Subfield: Analytical Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499