Analytical tools for urocanic acid determination in human samples: A review

Author(s)

Lima, Fabiana Vieira ^{[1, 2]} ; Azevedo Martins, Tercio Elyan ^{[3, 2]} ; Morocho-Jacome, Ana Lucia ^[2] ; Almeida, Isabel Filipa ^[4] ; Rosado, Catarina Fialho ^[5] ; Robles Velasco, Maria Valeria ^[2] ; Baby, Andre Rolim ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Espirito Santo, Dept Hlth Sci, Div Fac Pharm, Sao Mateus - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Pharm, 580 Prof Lineu Prestes Av, Bl 15, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Paulista, Hlth Sci Inst, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Porto, Dept Drug Sci, Fac Pharm, UCIBIO REQUIMTE, Med Tech Lab Pharmaceut Technol, Porto - Portugal

^[5] Univ Lusofona, CBIOS, Res Ctr Biosci & Hlth Technol, Lisbon - Portugal

• Document type: Review article
• Source: JOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE; v. 44, n. 1, SI, p. 438-447, JAN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Urocanic acid is a chromophore found in the skin that has been identified as an important immunosuppressant and carcinogenesis mediator through its photoisomerization from trans to cis form induced by ultraviolet radiation. Research on analytical methods that explore urocanic acid isomerization is indispensable to fully understand the deleterious effects mediated by this biomarker. In this context, the current relevant analytical methods for determination of these isomers in human samples are summarized in this review. The methods presented here are applicable to human samples collected by noninvasive methods (or minimally invasive), encompassing an array of analytical techniques, including high-performance capillary electrophoresis, confocal Raman spectroscopy, gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry, among others. Developed high-performance liquid chromatography methods have proven to be advantageous, allowing noninvasive collections for in vivo analysis and the confocal Raman, specially, for real-time analysis. Among all these methods, high-performance liquid chromatography is the most investigated one with mass spectrometry or ultraviolet detector, and the mass spectrometry detector being the most studied in the last years, demonstrating high sensitivity, very low detection limits, and accurate identification, especially for clinical investigations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/16169-0 - Ex vivo and in vivo establishment of new chemopreventive properties of UV filters
• Grantee: André Rolim Baby
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants