Monitoring Biogenic Amines: Comparative Assessment of Detection Methods for Key Market Marine and Freshwater Species.

Abstract

Biogenic amines, primarily histamine, cadaverine, and putrescine, are important indicators of microbial spoilage and potential health risks. This review summarizes established and novel analytical methods for quantitatively determining biogenic amines in fish and fish products, along with their limits of detection in these complex matrices. Traditional chromatographic methods (HPLC/UPLC, GC, and capillary electrophoresis) with pre- or postcolumn derivatization offer the highest sensitivity, with detection limits down to the microgram range. Spectroscopic techniques (UV/Vis, fluorescence, NIR, Raman/SERS, and NMR) enable noninvasive, partially nondestructive, and inline measurements. Enzymatic, aptamer-based, and molecular imprinting sensors, as well as immunoassay-based methods (e.g., ELISA and immunosensor approaches), are advantageous for their speed, ease of use, and portability. Moreover, the review discusses the opportunities and limitations of these methods in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and suitability for determining biogenic amines in the most market-relevant species of marine and freshwater fish, while also providing a unique list of all marine and freshwater fish species that have already been examined for their biogenic amine content, thereby providing references for efficient and suitable detection methods in fish.