Rapid identification of saponins in plant extracts by electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)) and liquid chromatography coupled with on-line mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) were applied to characterize saponins in crude extracts from Panax ginseng. The MS(n) data of the [M - H](-) ions of saponins can provide structural information on the sugar sequences of the saccharide chains and on the sapogins of saponins. By ESI-MS(n), non-isomeric saponins and isomeric saponins with different aglycones can be determined rapidly in plant extracts. LC/MS/MS is a good complementary analytical tool for determination of isomeric saponins. These approaches constitute powerful analytical tools for rapid screening and structural assignment of saponins in plant extracts.     

Characterization and identification of triterpenoid saponins in crude extracts from Clematis spp. by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization with multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry

High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS(n)) was applied to characterize and identify triterpenoid saponins in crude extracts from nine species of Clematis L. After separation on a Zorbax SB-C(18) column, negative ESI-MS experiments were performed. The quasi-molecular ions [M-H]-, [M+Cl]- and [M+HCOO]- were observed in the full-scan MS spectra of all compounds. The MS(n) (n = 2-4) data of the [M-H]- ions provided structural information on the sugar sequence of the oligosaccharide chains and on the aglycone of the saponins. In addition, the fragmentation mechanisms could be deduced from the fragment ions. As a result, eight saponins were unambiguously identified in C. ganpiniana by comparison with reference compounds. In addition, a new compound was tentatively identified as 3-O-ribopyranosyl --> rhamnopyranosyl --> (glucopyranosyl) --> arabinopyranosylhederagenin 28-O-rhamnopyranosyl --> glucopyranosyl --> glucopyranosyl ester (peak 1), and another one was tentatively deduced to be 3-O-glucopyranosyl --> ribopyranosyl --> rhamnopyranosyl --> arabinopyranosylhederagenin 28-O-rhamnopyranosyl --> glucopyranosyl --> glucopyranosyl ester (peak 5) from the genus Clematis L. for the first time. By ESI-MS(n), non-isomeric saponins could be discriminated rapidly. It is of interest that cleavage preferentially occurrs at the ester bond at C-28 and the charge is easy to transfer onto the oligosaccharide chain when the ester bond of a monodesmosidic saponin like HNH cleaves.     

Rapid identification of C21 steroidal saponins in Cynanchum versicolor Bunge by electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn) and liquid chromatography coupled with on-line electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MSn) were performed to elucidate the clearage rule of nine investigated C21 steroidal saponins and identify them in the saponin fraction of 90% ethanolic extracts from the root and rhizome of Cynanchum versicolor Bunge. The fragments of C21 steroidal saponins in positive and negative ESI-MSn were used to deduce their mass spectral fragmentation mechanisms, and their structures were further confirmed by ESI-MSn in positive mode. The MSn spectra of the [M+Na]+ ions for saponins provided a wealth of structural information on glycosidic bond cleavage, which allowed a straightforward interpretation of spectra, with respect to the identifications of features such as the sequences of sugars attached to saponins and sugar type. By using LC/ESI-MSn, nine C21 steroidal saponins were detected in the saponin fraction of C. versicolor, and an isomer of atratoglaucoside A was elucidated simultaneously. All nine compounds showed an abundant ion for the loss of 46 Da (HCOOH) from [M+Na]+. The losses of monosaccharide sequences and aglycone as neutral fragmentation from [M+Na-HCOOH]+ were also acquired as the characteristic ions of these C21 steroidal saponins. It provided important information on monosaccharide sequences and in particular on sugar types and could be used to identify and elucidate other C21 steroidal saponins. These studies allowed us to rapidly identify C21 steroidal saponins from Radix cynanchi atrati. It is indicated that the described method had wide applicability to rapidly screen and provide structural confirmation on C21 steroidal saponins in crude materials.     

Determination of Tripamide in human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Tripamide is a drug widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of hypertension and edema. This work evaluated a screening method for Tripamide and its urinary metabolites in human urine, using high-performance liquid chromatography diode-array detection (HPLC/DAD). Identification of these metabolites was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS) after dosing with 15 mg Tripamide. Acid hydrolysis showed that Tripamide is conjugated in the body. Two suspected metabolites were detected by HPLC/DAD. HPLC/ESI-MS/MS analysis suggested that these metabolites were probably hydroxylated together with loss of the -NH(2) group and dehydrogenation. These results will be useful in confirmation methods for Tripamide in doping control.     

Determination of microcystin-LR in surface water using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem electrospray ionization mass detector

The need for a rapid, sensitive, and reliable analytical method for microcystin-LR has been emphasized by the awareness of toxic cyanobacteria as a human-health risk through drinking water. Microcystin-LR is the most commonly reported microcystin which is produced by cyanobacteria. The WHO guideline for microcystin-LR in drinking water is 1 μg/l. In this paper, an effective method has been developed by application of high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem electrospray ionization mass detector in the determination of microcystin-LR in surface water sample. At the LC-MS-MS CID-full scan mode, different relative collision energies have been tested with 30% being used for further microcystin-LR analysis. The possible mass dissociation path has been proposed. Based on 30% relative collision energy, present method has an excellent method detection limit (MDL), which is as low as 2.6 ng/l. To the best of our knowledge, this represents one of the most sensitive methods in existence for the microcystin-LR analysis. This method has also been validated by evaluation of the calibration linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, and mass ratio stability.     

Derivatization reagents in liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) is one of the most prominent analytical techniques owing to its inherent selectivity and sensitivity. In LC/ESI-MS/MS, chemical derivatization is often used to enhance the detection sensitivity. Derivatization improves the chromatographic separation, and enhances the mass spectrometric ionization efficiency and MS/MS detectability. In this review, an overview of the derivatization reagents which have been applied to LC/ESI-MS/MS is presented, focusing on the applications to low molecular weight compounds.     

Characterization of G-rich and T-rich oligonucleotides using ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Characteristics of G-rich and T-rich oligonucleotides were investigated to compare their retention time, total ion current (TIC) intensity, charge-state distribution and product ion using ion-pair reversed-phase high- performance liquid chromatography/tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (IP-RP-HPLC/ESI-MS) at room temperature. Three commonly used mobile phases for the analysis of oligonucleotides, triethylammonium acetate (TEAA), triethylammonium bicarbonate (TEAB) and triethylammonium hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) have been utilized. Retention time of G-rich and T-rich oligonucleotides was significantly different in TEAA and TEAB buffer systems, while in the HFIP buffer system it was affected more by the length of oligonucleotides. On the other hand, the ESI-MS ion abundance in the HFIP buffer system was higher than that in both TEAA and TEAB buffers. The TIC intensity of T-rich oligonucleotides was much higher than that of G-rich oligonucleotides in all mobile phases. In addition, much higher charge-state fragments were observed in HFIP buffer system than that in the case of TEAA and TEAB buffer systems. Product ions of both G-rich and T-rich oligonucleotides were affected by charge state of parent ions and collision energy.     

Characterization of explosives by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization and parent-ion scanning techniques

Analytical techniques for the detection of small amounts of explosives (in the picogram range) are now involved in various application. Some of them concern soil, water and air monitoring in order to face environmental problems related to improper handling procedures either in stocking or in wasting of the explosive products. Other areas are strictly related to forensic analysis of samples coming either from explosion areas where the matrix is various (metal, glass, wood, scraps), or from explosives transportation related to international terrorism. Generally speaking, for these applications the bulk of the matrix seriously interferes in the detection of the explosive analyte, which is usually present at trace levels. Unfortunately, despite some improvements, analytical techniques developed up today in this domain are still faced to two main constraints: the introduction of new products with unanticipated chemico-physical properties and the requirement of a routine and fast analytical method which can handle any matrix with a minimal clean-up and performing a sensitivity compatible either with the ever-decreasing demanded detection limit and with the ever-decreasing available specimen amount. These requirements can be fulfilled now by the new LC-MS and LC-MSMS techniques: mass spectrometry (MS) is likely an universal detector but even specific, especially when implemented in tandem MS (MSMS); LC is by far the most suitable technique to handle such a kind of compounds. Moreover, of a particular concern are some explosives which are reported to be thermally stable but difficult to dissolve. Some of the experiments on characterization of explosives [Octagen (HMX), Ethyleneglycol dinitrate (EGDN), Exogen (RDX), Propanetriol trinitrate (NG), Trinitrotoluene (TNT), N-Methyl-N-tetranitrobenzenamine (TETRYL), Dintrotoluene (DNT), Bis-(nitrooxy-methyl) propanediol dinitrate (PETN), Hexanitrostilbene (HNS), Triazido-trinitrobenzene (TNTAB), Tetranitro-acridone (TENAC), Hexa-nitrodiphenylamine (HEXYL), Nitroguanidine (NQ)] by LC-MS and LC-MSMS with the API-IonSpray source and using the Parent-Scan technique are presented.     

Porphomethene inhibitor of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase: analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

An uroporphomethene inhibitor of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase, characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, was reported recently (Phillips et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2007; 104: 5079-5084). Close examination of the tandem mass spectrometric fragmentation pattern of the compound showed that it is not a tetrapyrrole or an uroporphyrinogen or uroporphyrin related molecule. The product ion spectrum showed a fragmentation pattern typical of a poly(ethylene glycol) structure. Characteristic fragmentations of the side-chain acetic acid and propionic acid substituents of a uroporphyrin or uroporphyrinogen derivative were absent.     

Congener-specific analysis of hexabromocyclododecane by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

A congener-specific method based on high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ES-MS/MS) in the negative ion mode was developed for the analysis of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD). On a C(18) analytical column, with a methanol/water mobile phase, the alpha-isomer was completely resolved from the beta- and gamma-isomers while the beta- and gamma-isomers were sufficiently resolved at half their peak heights. The ES spray voltage strongly influenced the intensity of the ion signal. For MS, a source temperature of 500 degrees C and a collision energy of 50 eV were found to be optimum for the [M-H](-) to Br(-) transition. Run-to-run and day-to-day (n = 3) variability was minimal, with relative standard deviations of 2.6-4.1 and 2.4-4.4%, respectively. The limit of detection was 4-6 pg on-column. When applied to tissue samples from Lake Winnipeg fish both alpha- and gamma-isomers of HBCDD were found in low-ng/g (lipid corrected) concentrations.     

Quantitation of glutathione by liquid chromatography/positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide composed of glutamate, cysteine, and glycine. It is present in practically all cells and has several important roles, such as preventing the oxidation of the sulfhydryl groups of proteins within a cell. Evidence for GSH deficiency or depletion has been found in a variety of diseases and toxicity-related studies, including diabetes and induction of oxidative stress to form reactive oxygen species which cause DNA, lipid, and protein oxidations. A simple, selective, and sensitive analytical method for measuring low levels of GSH in biological fluids would therefore be desirable to conduct GSH deficiency or depletion-related mechanistic toxicity studies. Here a method for both low- and high-level quantitation of GSH from cultured cells and rat liver tissues via liquid chromatography/positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) has been developed. The lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) of the method was 5 ng/mL. The method is linear over a wide dynamic concentration range of 5.0 to 5000.0 ng/mL, with a correlation coefficient R2 > 0.99. The intra-day assay precision relative standard deviation (RSD) values for all quality control (QC) samples were < or =16.31%, with accuracy values ranging from 94.13 to 97.80%. The inter-day assay precision RSD values for all QC samples were < or =15.94%, with accuracy values ranging from 94.51 to 100.29%. With this method, low levels of GSH from diethyl maleate (DEM)-treated mouse lymphoma cells, and GSH in rat liver tissues, were quantified.     

Characterization of compounds from the roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

In this study, four types of compounds including coumarins, chromones, furoylmethyl amino acid derivative and benzofuran glycoside were isolated from the roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata. The electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectral fragmentation pathways of these compounds were proposed. In particular, the ESI-MS(n) fragmentation behavior of linear dihydrofurocoumarins, dihydrofuro- and dihydropyranochromones were deduced in detail. For the linear dihydrofurocoumarins, the fragmentation was triggered by the initial loss of the C-4' substituting group. Then, the characteristic ions were observed followed by the losses of 15, 18, 28 and 46 Da. It is noteworthy that the elimination of H(2)O (18 Da) from the cleavage of the dihydrofuran ring is reported for the first time. For the linear dihydrofurochromones, characteristic eliminations of 18, 48 and 72 Da were observed. The loss of 18 Da could arise from two different fragmentation pathways, and the observed ion was composed of a mixture of two different structural ions. For the linear dihydropyranochromones, it was found that the dihydropyran ring was converted into the pyran ring by the elimination of the C-3' substituting group. This fragmentation was followed by the diagnostic losses of 18, 28, 42 and 54 Da in tandem mass spectrometry. The above fragmentation rules were successfully applied for the analysis of the chemical constituents of the roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata. A total of 32 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized by HPLC/DAD/ESI-MS(n). Among them, eight compounds were new and seven compounds were reported from that genus for the first time.     

Quantitative determination of E5880 in rat plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and sensitive method is described for the determination of E5880 in rat plasma. The method is based on high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, using deuterated E5880 as an internal standard. Selected reaction monitoring is employed for selectivity and sensitivity, this in turn enables quantification in a short period of time (within 7 minutes) over the extended range of 0.1-1000 ng/ml with acceptable precision and accuracy. The method demonstrated to be suitable for the quantitative analysis of E5880 in rat plasma. The pharmacokinetic profile of E5880 after a single intravenous administration of E5880 was elucidated.     

Characterization of ageing products of ester-based synthetic lubricants by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and by electrospray ionization (tandem) mass spectrometry

Ageing products of a commercial jet engine oil based on pentaerythritol tetraesters which were formed upon operation in an aviation turbine were detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and characterized by LC-ESI-MS. The fatty acid composition of these ageing products was investigated by ESI-MS-MS analysis. The ammonium adducts of the newly formed pentaerythritol tetraester degradation products were found to be suitable parent ions for further structure elucidation work. ESI-MS, LC-ESI-MS and ESI-MS-MS proved to be versatile tools to study the chemical composition (distribution of homologues) as well as the mechanism of ageing of ester based lubricants on a molecular level. Due to its high sensitivity, ESI-MS can also be used to characterize and identify trace levels of ester-based lubricants.     

Characterization of phenolic compounds in the fruits of Forsythia suspensa by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Phenolic compounds are the major bioactive constituents of Forsythia suspensa, an important Chinese herbal medicine used for the treatment of various infectious diseases. Fragmentation behaviors of the phenolic compounds in F. suspensa were investigated by using a high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS(n)) method. For common phenylethanoid glycosides, the loss of the caffeoyl moiety was the first fragmentation step, then sequential losses of rhamnose, hexose and water were observed in further fragmentations. If a substituent group presented in the beta position, the fragmentation was triggered by initial loss of a substituent group to form structures such as suspensaside A. Then it underwent the common fragmentation pathways as mentioned above, or eliminated characteristic residues of masses 134 or 152 Da, respectively. The latter pathway is reported here for the first time. The fragmentation behaviors of furofuran lignans displayed a typical cleavage of the tetrahydrofuran ring. However, the presence of a hydroxyl group at C-1 led to the successive loss of 30 Da. Neutral loss of CO(2) and benzyl cleavage were characteristic for lignans with a 2,3-dibenzylbutyrolactone skeleton. A neutral loss of 30 Da was also observed in the fragmentation pattern of flavonols. These fragmentation rules were implemented to analyze phenolic compounds in the fruits of F. suspensa. A total of 51 compounds, including 24 phenylethanoid glycosides, 21 lignans and 6 flavonols, were identified or tentatively characterized based on their retention times, UV spectra and MS fragmentation patterns.     

Characterization of phenolic compounds in the crude extract of Hedysarum multijugum by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

The fragmentation behavior of four types of phenolic compounds: coumestans, pterocarpenes, benzofurans and isoflavones, were studied using electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)) (n = 2-5) in negative ion mode. Losses of methyl (15 Da), CO (28 Da), CO(2) (44 Da), isopropyl (43 Da) and isobutenyl (55 Da) were dominating fragmentation patterns. Different positions and numbers of the substituents also led to the different fragmentation behavior. These fragmentation rules were applied for the identification of constituents in methanolic extracts of Hedysarum multijugum, in which 29 compounds were characterized, including nine new compounds. The method established in this study could be applied to the comprehensive quality control of the herb and its formulations. It could also be applied to the biological and pharmacological research of traditional Chinese medicines.     

Characterization of methylation site of monomethylflavan-3-ols by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) was used for the structural characterization and differentiation of four isomeric O-monomethylated catechins (on phenolic positions) by the analysis of the fragmentation behaviour of catechin. The catechin fragmentation routes were rationalized and it is shown that several diagnostic ions such as (1,3)A(+), (1,2)B(+), and (1,4)B(+) allow the unambiguous identification of the methylated ring. The precise position of the methyl group on each ring is determined by the difference in the relative intensities of the diagnostic ions. Isomeric O-methylepicatechins were also differentiated using this methodology.     

Identification of isoflavonoids in several kudzu samples by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Pueraria lobata is a rich source of isoflavonoids. The detection and identification of isoflavonoid components from Pueraria radix (RP), callus and cell cultures, is very important for the safest and most effective use of kudzu as a medicinal plant, and for the studies on quantitative analysis and secondary metabolism of isoflavonoids in vitro cultures. Liquid chromatography is coupled with negative and positive electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS), and photodiode array detection is used to characterize and detect isoflavonoids in root, callus, and cell samples of P. lobata. Characteristic product ions of aglycones, O-glucosides, and C-glucosides were obtained from the full-scan ESI-MS chromatography of the major peaks and the MS-MS spectra of the protonated ions. Five major components of puerarin, daidzin-6"-O-acetylester, genistin-6"-O-malonylester, biochanin A-7-O-glucoside-6"-O-malonylester, and daidzein are detected and identified from the methanolic extract of P. lobata callus cultures. The major isoflavonoid components of P. lobata cell suspension cultures are identified as puerarin, daidzin, daidzin-6"-O-acetylester, genistin-6"-O-malonylester, biochanin A-7-O-glucoside-6"-O-malonylester, genistein-8-C-glucoside-6"-O-malonylester, and daidzein, on the basis of ESI-MS and MS-MS spectra analysis. Likewise, puerarin, daidzin, genistein-6"-O-malonylester, 3'-methoxypuerarin, and daidzein are detected and identified from RP. Of those isoflavonoid components detected, daidzin-6"-O-acetylester is a new isoflavonoid glucoside and is for the first time detected from P. lobata cultures in vitro.     

High-throughput determination of atrasentan in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Atrasentan (A-147627) is an endothelin antagonist receptor being developed at Abbott Laboratories for the treatment of prostate cancer. A quick and sensitive method for the determination of atrasentan in human plasma has been developed and validated using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. A dual-column, single mass spectrometer system is used to provide a reliable and routine means to increase sample throughput. The analytical method involves liquid-liquid extraction and internal standard (A-166790). The plasma samples and internal standard are acidified with 0.3 M hydrochloric acid prior to being extracted into 1:1 (v/v) hexanes--methyl t-butyl ether. The organic extract was evaporated to dryness using heated nitrogen stream and reconstituted with mobile phase. Atrasentan and internal standard were separated with no interference in a Zorbax SB-C(18) analytical column with 2.1 x 50 mm, 5 microm, and a Zorbax C(8) guard column using a mobile phase consisting of 50:50 (v:v) acetonitrile--0.05 M ammonium acetate, pH 4.5, at a flow rate of 0.30 mL/min to provide 4 min chromatograms. For a 250 microL plasma sample volume, the limit of quantitation was approximately 0.3 ng/mL. The calibration was linear from 0.30 to 98.0 ng/mL (r(2) > 0.995). A significant advantage of the method is the ability to employ parallel HPLC separations with detection by a single MS/MS system to provide sensitivity and selectivity sufficient to achieve robust analytical results with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.30 ng/mL and high throughput.