Analytical possibilities of Putrescine and Cadaverine enzymatic colorimetric determination in tuna based on diamine oxidase: A critical study of the use of ABTS

Abstract The joint determination of putrescine (Put) and cadaverine (Cad) in the presence of other biogenic amines is studied using their enzymatic reaction with diamine oxidase (DAO). Three alternative methods are studied based on the intrinsic colorimetric properties of DAO or horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and the use of 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) colorimetric reagent, respectively. In this last case an in-depth study is carried out in order to explain and solve some drawbacks usually associated with the use of this reagent (especially interferences, interaction with enzymes and instability), and to propose new analytical methodologies which this reagent allows to achieve (transient signal and the use of the violet species). Finally, the method has been applied to Put + Cad determination in a tuna sample without interference of other biogenic amines. The result has been compared with that obtained using a method based on HPLC-MS, which has allowed the new methodology to be validated.