Simultaneous determination of 16 hormones in cosmetics by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

A comprehensive analytical method based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry has been developed for the simultaneous determination of sixteen hormones, including glucocorticoids, oestrogens, androgens and progestogens ( glucocorticoids: triamcinolone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone, prednisone, cortisone, 6 alpha-methylprednisolone, betamethasone, dexamethasone, prednisolone acetate, hydrocortisone acetate; oestrogens: estriol, beta-estradiol, estrone, diethylstilbestrol; androgen: testosterone; progestogen: progesterone). Various cosmetic samples were extracted with methanol under ultrasonication. The extract was centrifuged, and the upper solution was then cleaned up by Oasis HLB solid phase extraction cartridge. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was carried out for the analyte under the MRM mode after the chromatographic separation on Agilent ZORBAX XDB-C-8 (250 mm x 4. 6 mm, 5 mu m) column. Glucocorticoids, androgens and progestogens were analyzed in the positive mode, while oestrogens in the negative mode. The limits of detection ( LOD) for the sixteen hormones were in the range of 1-13 mu g/kg. The mean recoveries at the spiked level of 10 - 100 mu g/kg were 72. 8% -93. 4%, with the relative standard deviation less than 10. 2%.