Liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for detection of estrogen in commercial oils and in fruit seed oils

A fast, simple and sensitive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method has been developed for the determination of estrogen in selected edible oils, pomegranate seeds and date palm seeds. The technique uses an acetone solution of the edible oil and acetone extraction of the seed sample for concentration and purification by gel permeation chromatography, followed by LC-MS analysis. The detection limit for estrone in oil is 0.3 ng/g with recoveries of between 70% and 80% with standard deviations of <7%.