Comprehensive screening strategy for potentially hazardous plant secondary metabolites in honey using natural deep eutectic solvent extraction combined with LC-MS/MS.

Abstract

Honey is prone to be contaminated by hazardous plant secondary metabolites (HPSMs) when bees collect nectar or pollen with these substances. The establishment of a screening approach helps control honey quality, ensuring safe consumption. A novel natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) combined with LC-MS/MS was developed to detect eleven types of HPSMs in honey. Optimum extraction protocol was established through theoretical screening, validation and parameter optimisation. Furthermore, matrix-matched calibration curves of 28 target substances were determined with the LOQs of 0.15-3.63 μg/kg, and the recovery of spiked honey samples ranged from 82.37% to 99.17% with the RSD < 10%. Compared to conventional methods, this approach includes a wide range of compound classes, though its coverage of specific subcategories remains restricted, and it doesn't provide a notable improvement in LODs; while it shows significant advantages in low consumption of organic solvents, simplifying the overall procedure, and enhancing environmental friendliness and safety.