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Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene) is a phytoalexin that belongs to the group of stilbenes, known to occur in grapes and consequently in grape products. Its presence in wine is an important qualitative parameter because of the several beneficial effects on human health. The aim of this work is the development of a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of trans resveratrol in wines, and comparisons between the results obtained by different detection techniques: UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Resveratrol is analysed on a C-18 column using gradient elution. The method permits direct injection of sample, revealing to be time-saving, overcoming the need of sample pre-treatment steps. Detection limits were 154.8 ng mL−1 by HPLC-UV, 118.0 ng mL−1 by HPLC-FL and 48.0 ng mL−1 by HPLC-MS. Trans resveratrol has been then quantified in a group of 52 wines derived from different Italian regions, cultivars and winemaking technologies by HPLC-UV.

Boldenone is an androgenic anabolic steroid (AAS) intensively used for growth promoting purposes in animals destined for meat production and as a performance enhancer in athletics. Therefore its use is officially banned either in animals intended for consumption or in humans. Because most anabolic steroids are completely metabolized and usually no parent steroid is excreted, metabolite identification is crucial to detect the illegal use of anabolic steroids either in humans or in livestock. The aim of this work is the investigation of 17-boldenone and its main metabolites, 17-sulphate, 17-glucuronide, 5-androst-1-en17-ol-3-one and 17-boldenone, in human and bovine urine developing a multiresidue analysis. After solid phase extraction of urine samples, detection is carried out by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring. The average recovery for all the investigated compounds is above 70%. The developed method is very easy, quick and highly specific. Linearity, precision, decision limit and detection capability were also evaluated. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An analytical procedure for the determination of natural steroids and their conjugates was developed and applied to bovine and human urine. Fifteen compounds (free and conjugated) after extraction by solid-phase were identified by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Free and conjugated steroids were detected all together in the same chromatographic analysis respectively in positive and negative ionization. This procedure reveals to be time-saving, because it overcomes the need of further sample pre-treatment steps, such as enzymatic hydrolysis and derivatisation. The recovery for each compound was around 80%. Limit of detection of each steroid free or conjugated has been evaluated.

In this work hydroxycinnamic acid esters of tartaric acid (mono-p-coumaroyl tartaric acid, monocaffeoyl tartaric acid, monoferuloyl tartaric acid esters) were separated, identified and quantified in several red wines by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The method features direct analysis of wines with no preparation and analysis of grape juice with minimum sample manipulation. For the identification was used both a triple quadrupole and a quadrupole–Tof, while for the quantification a triple quadrupole. At the same time two impurities, due to interfering substances coming from methanol (stored in bottles with polypropylene tops without Teflon protection), were characterised. These impurities had the same molecular weight as the investigated compounds.

Stanozolol is an anabolic steroid illicitly used for growth promoting purposes in animal production. For reasons of public health the use of anabolic steroids as growth promoters is officially banned in Europe in animals intended for consumption. The aim of this work is the investigation of stanozolol metabolites, 3′-hydroxystanozolol, 4β- hydroxystanozolol and 16β- hydroxystanozolol in urine samples after stanozolol administration to a young calf. After solid phase extraction of urine samples, detection is carried out by HPLC-MS-MS multiple reaction monitoring. Average recovery for the three metabolites is 80%. The method is highly specific and has been validated in terms of linearity, inter and intra day precision. In addition the decision limit CCα and the detection capability CCβ have been determined.