Analytical approaches and preparation of biological, food and environmental samples for analyses of zearalenone and its metabolites

Abstract Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycotoxin that occurs in all stages of plant growth and development and exerts harmful effects on humans and animals. Zearalenone is easily absorbed in the digestive tract, and it is metabolized in the intestinal wall and the liver. Zearalenone has several derivatives: zearalenone, zearalanone (ZAN), α-zearalenol (α-ZEL), β-zearalenol (β-ZEL), α-zearalanol (α-ZAL) and β-zearalanol (β-ZAL). These substances have a high affinity for estrogen receptors, and they can gradually affect the endocrine system. Excess ZEN and its metabolites are excreted with urine and bile. This paper analyzes ZEN metabolism and investigates the presence of ZEN and its metabolites in urine. Since the isolation of ZEN and its metabolites from different matrices still poses a significant problem, the paper also presents various sample preparation methods (including liquid-solid extraction, liquid-liquid extraction and other techniques) as well as sensitive and specific chromatographic techniques, including liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence and mass spectrometry detection, gas chromatography (GC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC).