Fast and Specific Screening of EPA/DHA-Enriched Phospholipids in Fish Oil Extracted from Different Species by HILIC–MS
Xina Yu, Qingcheng Wang, Weibo Lu, Min Zhang, Kang Chen, Jing Xue, Qiaoling Zhao, Pingya Wang, Pei Luo, Qing Shen
Abstract
Eicosapentaenoic acid- and docosahexaenoic acid-enriched phospholipids (PLEPA/DHA) have versatile health-beneficial functions and can be well absorbed in the intestine. Herein, a precursor ion scan-driven hydrophilic interaction chromatography mass spectrometry (PreIS–HILIC–MS) method with the fatty acyl moieties of m/z 301.6 and 327.6 locked was established to specifically and selectively screen PLEPA/DHA in different fish oil samples, including saury, grass carp, hairtail, and yellow croaker. Taking saury oil as an example, a total of 24 PLEPA/DHA were successfully identified and quantified, including 20 PCEPA/DHA and 4 PEEPA/DHA. Finally, this method was validated in terms of sensitivity (limit of detection ≤ 4.15 μg·mL–1), linearity (≥0.9979), precision (RSDintraday ≤ 4.65%), and recovery (≥78.6%). The performance of the PreIS–HILIC–MS method was also compared with that of the traditional full-scan mode, and the former demonstrated its unique superiority in targeted screening of PLEPA/DHA in fish oils.