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Analysis of institutional authors

Gonzalez-Gomez, LorenaAuthorMorante-Zarcero, SoniaAuthorSierra, IsabelCorresponding Author

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November 7, 2022
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Article

Improved Analytical Approach for Determination of Tropane Alkaloids in Leafy Vegetables Based on mu-QuEChERS Combined with HPLC-MS/MS

Publicated to: Toxins. 14 (10): 650- - 2022-10-01 14(10), DOI: 10.3390/toxins14100650

Authors:

González-Gómez, L; Morante-Zarcero, S; Pereira, JAM; Câmara, JS; Sierra, I
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Affiliations

Univ Madeira, CQM Ctr Quim Madeira, Campus Penteada, P-9020105 Funchal, Portugal - Author
Univ Madeira, Fac Ciencias Exatas & Engn, Dept Quim, Campus Univ Penteada, P-9020105 Funchal, Portugal - Author
Univ Rey Juan Carlos, Dept Tecnol Quim & Ambiental, ESCET Escuela Super Ciencias Expt & Tecnol, C Tulipan S-N, Madrid 28933, Spain - Author
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Abstract

This work presents an optimized methodology based on the miniaturization of the original QuEChERS (mu-QuEChERS) followed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for the determination of tropane alkaloids (TAs), atropine, and scopolamine in leafy vegetable samples. The analytical methodology was successfully validated, demonstrating quantitation limits (MQL) <= 2.3 ng/g, good accuracy, and precision, with recoveries between 90-100% and RSD <= 13% for both analytes. The method was applied to the analysis of TA-producing plants (Brugmansia versicolor, Solandra maxima, and Convolvulus arvensis). High concentrations of scopolamine were found in flowers (1771 mg/kg) and leaves (297 mg/kg) of B. versicolor. The highest concentration of atropine was found in flowers of S. maxima (10.4 mg/kg). Commercial mixed leafy vegetables contaminated with B. versicolor and S. maxima were analysed to verify the efficacy of the method, showing recoveries between 82 and 110% for both analytes. Finally, the method was applied to the analysis of eighteen samples of leafy vegetables, finding atropine in three samples of mixed leafy vegetables, with concentrations of 2.7, 3.2, and 3.4 ng/g, and in nine samples with concentrations <= MQL. In turn, scopolamine was only found in a sample of chopped Swiss chard with a concentration <= MQL.
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Keywords

AcetonitrileAnalysisAnalytic methodArticleAtropineBrugmansiaBrugmansia versicolorCentrifugationChemistryChromatography, high pressure liquidContaminationConvolvulus arvensisElectrosprayExtractionExtraction timeFlowerFreeze dryingHigh performance liquid chromatographyHplc-ms/msHydrationLeafy vegetableLeafy vegetablesLimit of detectionLimit of quantitationLiquid chromatography-mass spectrometryLiquid-chromatographyMeasurement accuracyMeasurement precisionMethanolMethodologyMiniaturizationMu-quechersMultiple reaction monitoringNonhumanParticle sizePlant leafPlant leavesProceduresScopolamineSolanaceaeSolandra maximaSwiss chardTandem mass spectrometryTropane alkaloidTropane alkaloidsTropane derivativeTropanesValidationValidation processVegetableVegetablesΜ-quechers

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Toxins due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position 23/94, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Toxicology.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 2.02. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 13, 2025)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.23 (source consulted: FECYT Mar 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-12-28, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 18
  • Scopus: 18
  • Europe PMC: 6
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-12-28:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 23.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 22 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 4.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 5 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Portugal.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (González Gómez, Lorena) and Last Author (Sierra Alonso, María Isabel).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Sierra Alonso, María Isabel.

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Awards linked to the item

This research was funded by MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE, project number RTI2018-094558-B-I00 (EVALKALIM). This work was also funded by FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia through the CQM Base Fund-UIDB/00674/2020, and Programmatic Fund-UIDP/00674/2020, and by ARDITI-Agencia Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigacao Tecnologia e Inovacao, through the project M1420-01-0145-FEDER-000005-Centro de Quimica da Madeira-CQM+ (Madeira 14-20 Program) and the Project M1420-09-5369-FSE-000001 for the Post-Doctoral fellowship given to J.A.M.P. The authors also acknowledge the financial support from Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia and Madeira 14-2020 program to the Portuguese Mass Spectrometry Network through PROEQUIPRAM program, M14-20 M1420-01-0145-FEDER-000008.
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