The genus Ramalina (Ascomycota, Lecanoromycetes, Ramalinaceae) from the Scattered Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands), with descriptions of three new species

A systematic survey of lichens was performed in 2019 in four of the five territories constituting the French Scattered Islands (Europa Island, Juan de Nova, Glorioso Islands, and Tromelin) focusing on the genus Ramalina. Species were characterized using morphological (macroscopic and microscopic) features and an accurate chemical profiling method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS). Five species were found in these territories. Two of them, Ramalina dumeticola and R. ovalis, are already known. Three species are introduced here as new to science: Ramalina gloriosensis sp. nov., R. hivertiana sp. nov., and R. marteaui sp. nov. An identification key is provided for the species found in the area and morphologically closely related taxa.

Analysis of ethylene glycol in animal feed using liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A determination method of ethylene glycol in animal feed by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was developed. The analysis was performed with a C18 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 3.5 µm), and a gradient mobile phase of 0.1 % formic acid solution and acetonitrile. Ethylene glycol and surrogate standard (propylene glycol) were extracted by water at room temperature, derivatized with benzoyl chloride in alkaline medium, and analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS. The method has high specificity and selectivity with a detection limit of 0.1 mg/kg, linearity range of 1 - 20 µg/mL, repeatability of 3.08 - 4.41 %, and recovery of  91.1 - 102.0 %, which meet AOAC requirements. This method has been applied to analyze some marketed animal feed samples.

Analysis of Flavonoid Metabolites in Watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) and the Non-Heading Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis cv. Aijiaohuang) Using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS

Flavonoids from plants play an important role in our diet. Watercress is a special plant that is rich in flavonoids. In this study, four important watercress varieties were compared with non-heading Chinese cabbage by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). A total of 132 flavonoid metabolites (including 8 anthocyanins, 2 dihydroflavone, 3 dihydroflavonol, 1 flavanols, 22 flavones, 11 flavonoid carbonosides, 82 flavonols, and 3 isoflavones) were detected. Flavonoid metabolites varied widely in different samples. Both the non-heading Chinese cabbage and the variety of watercress from Guangdong, China, had their own unique metabolites. This work is helpful to better understand flavonoid metabolites between the non-heading Chinese cabbage and the other four watercress varieties, and to provide a reliable reference value for further research.