Biogenic amines are low-molecular-weight nitrogen compounds that are formed primarily by the decarboxylation of amino acids by microbial enzymes. These active substances are found mainly in various types of food or beverages. At certain concentrations, biogenic amines are essential for many physiological functions but toxic if consumed in large quantities. Therefore, the development and optimization of methods sensitive to determine these substances are very much needed. The determination of biogenic amines in food and beverages by the most commonly used separation methods with different types of detection is covered in this review.

POM analysis and related approaches are significant tools based on calculating various physico-chemical properties and predicting biological activity, ADME parameters, and toxicity of a molecule. These methods are used to evaluate a molecule’s potential to become a drug candidate. Avenanthramides (AVNs) are promising secondary metabolites specific to Avena spp. (oat). They comprise the amides of anthranilic acid linked to various polyphenolic acids with or without post-condensation molecule transformation. These natural compounds have been reported to exert numerous biological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antiatherogenic, and antiproliferative properties. To date, almost 50 various AVNs have been identified. We performed a modified POM analysis of 42 AVNs using MOLINSPIRATION, SWISSADME, and OSIRIS software. The evaluation of primary in silico parameters revealed significant differences among individual AVNs, highlighting the most promising candidates. These preliminary results may help coordinate and initiate other research projects focused on particular AVNs, especially those with predicted bioactivity, low toxicity, optimal ADME parameters, and promising perspectives.

Phenolic amides contained in oats (Avenanthramides; AVNs) are biologically active substances with strong antioxidant activity. In this paper, we evaluated efficiency of three C18 chromatographic columns (Symmetry, XBridge, Cortecs) with different particle technology and particle sizes for the separation of three major avenanthramides (AVN A, AVN B, AVN C). We compared columns in terms of retention times, retention factors of AVNs and in terms of other parameters such as number of theoretical plates, height equivalent to a theoretical plate, reduced plate height, resolution and in terms of peak symmetry, respectively. Limits of detection and limits of quantification of AVNs on all columns were calculated. Retention results of AVNs on individual columns showed a significant reduction in retention times of AVNs on solid core column with a particle size 2.7 μm compared to columns with particle size 3.5 μm. Within columns with 3.5 μm particles, separation on Symmetry C18 column appeared to be more efficient than on the XBridge C18 column. In general, results achieved on Cortecs C18 column can be considered as the best in terms of both separation efficiency and retention times.