Evaluation of amino acids in bee products using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry method

Evaluation of amino acids in bee products using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry method Final thesis for master’s degree by Rimantė Jaskelevičiūtė, supervisor Doc. dr. Konradas Vitkevičius; Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Analytical and Toxicological Chemistry, Kaunas. Aim of the work: do analysis of amino acids in bee products: evaluate variation of amino acids quantity in bee products gathered in different locations of Lithuania, also evaluate quantitative and qualitative composition of amino acids and compare it together. Tasks of work: 1. Choose proper conditions for extraction of amino acids in bee products. 2. Apply qualitative gas chromatography– mass spectrometry method to evaluate amino acids and compare them in products of different Lithuanian regions’ apiaries. 3. Do quantitative gas chromatography research and compare, how varies quantity of amino acids in products of different Lithuanian regions’ apiaries. 4. Evaluate composition of pollen and bee bread by taking into consideration and comparing average quantity of amino acids in it. Method: gas chromatography. Research object: bee products – pollen and bee bread. Results and conclusions: 1. After performing the experiments, it was determined that in bee products – bread and pollen, no free amino acids are found, therefore, before the research, hydrolysis was executed. As the most appropriate derivative, the MTBSTFA (N-metil-N-(tert-butildimetilsilyil)trifluoroacetamid) regent was chosen. 2. By applying gas chromatography method– mass spectrometry method and relying on data base, there were found 15 amino acids, relying to its different retention time. 10 samples were examined – pollen and bee bread from five different Lithuanian regions. 3. After comparing quantity of amino acids, it was determined that the most amino acids in pollen were found in the sample submitted by Kretinga region’s apiary, and least – by Kaišiadorys region, the biggest concentration of amino acids in bee bread formed in researched sample of Biržai region’s apiary and smallest – in Kaišiadorys region gathered bee bread. 4. By valuating average composition of amino acids in pollen and bee bread, it can be stated that the bigger concentration of amino acids is formed in pollen