Mass spectrometry analysis of terpene lactones in Ginkgo biloba

Terpene lactones are a family of compounds with unique chemical structures, first recognised in an extract of Ginkgo biloba. The discovery of terpene lactone derivatives has recently been reported in more and more plant extracts and even food products. In this study, mass spectrometric characteristics of the standard terpene lactones in Ginkgo biloba were comprehensively studied using both an ion trap and a quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometer. The mass spectral fragmentation data from both techniques was compared to obtain the mass spectrometric fragmentation pathways of the terpene lactones with high confidence. The data obtained will facilitate the analysis and identification of terpene lactones in future plant research via the fragmentation knowledge reported here.     

Reversed-phase argentation high-performance liquid chromatography in phytochemical analysis of ginkgolic acids in leaves from Ginkgo biloba L

A reversed-phase argentation high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been achieved for the determination of ginkgolic acids. Liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry in the negative ion mode is applied to identify ginkgolic acids from ginkgo leaves. The leaves are extracted with ethanol and then cleaned-up by extraction of analytes with hexane after addition of an acidified saturated solution of sodium sulfate and siliceous earth to the matrix solution. Ginkgolic acids are determined within 30 min on a C18 column with methanol-5% aqueous acetic acid (90:10) containing 0.03 mol l(-1) silver nitrate as eluent and with ultraviolet detection at 310 nm. Addition of silver ions as complexation agent into the mobile phase decreases retention time of ginkgolic acids with an unsaturated side chain. Four ginkgolic acids are successfully separated from each other and from other interfering components by the high selectivity of reversed-phase argentation HPLC, which is confirmed by the spectra identification. The average recovery of the method is around 97%. Good reproducibility is obtained with relative standard deviations varying from 2 to 5%.     

Chemical analysis of Ginkgo biloba leaves and extracts

The chemical analysis and quality control of Ginkgo leaves and extracts is reviewed. Important constituents present in the medicinally used leaves are the terpene trilactones, i.e., ginkgolides A, B, C, J and bilobalide, many flavonol glycosides, biflavones, proanthocyanidins, alkylphenols, simple phenolic acids, 6-hydroxykynurenic acid, 4-O-methylpyridoxine and polyprenols. In the commercially important Ginkgo extracts some of these compound classes are no longer present. Many publications deal with the analysis of the unique terpene trilactones. They can be extracted with aqueous acetone or aqueous methanol but also supercritical fluid extraction is possible. Still somewhat problematic is their sample clean-up. Various procedures, not all of them validated, employing partitioning or SPE have been proposed. Some further development in this area can be foreseen. Separation and detection can be routinely carried out by HPLC with RI, ELSD or MS, or with GC-FID after silylation. TLC is another possibility. No quantitative procedure for flavonol glycosides has been published so far due their difficult separation and commercial unavailability. Fingerprint analysis by gradient RP-HPLC is possible. After acidic hydrolysis to the aglycones quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin and separation by HPLC, quantitation is straightforward and yields by recalculation an estimation of the original total flavonol glycoside content. For biflavones, simple phenols, 6-hydroxykynurenic acid, 4-O-methylpyridoxine and polyprenols analytical procedures have been published but not all assays are yet ideal. Lately a there is a lot of interest in the analysis of the undesired alkylphenols and a few validated procedures have been published. The analysis of Ginkgo proanthocyanidins is still in its infancy and no reliable assays exist.     

热辅助下的在线甲基衍生化-气相色谱法分析银杏叶中的银杏酸

采用热辅助下的在线甲基衍生化-气相色谱法测定银杏叶中的银杏酸。银杏叶样品与衍生化试剂四甲基氢氧化铵(TMAH, 25%甲醇溶液)同时进样,在300 ℃的进样口瞬间生成了银杏酸甲基衍生物,银杏叶中6种银杏酸得到很好的分离。在一定的质量浓度范围内银杏酸的线性关系良好,回归系数均大于0.9966,最低检出限范围为0.8～2.8 mg/kg。银杏叶中主要的烷基酚类物质为银杏酸C13∶0,C15∶1和C17∶1,它们的含量(用质量分数表示)分别为11.0%,36.7%和42.8%,3次平行测定的相对标准偏差(RSD)均小于3.4%(n=3)。银杏叶样品中总银杏酸的含量为4.0～10.9 mg/g。该方法无需繁琐费时的衍生化和纯化等前处理步骤,不失为银杏叶中银杏酸测定的一种快速、简便、准确的方法。     

Liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry of terpene lactones in plasma of volunteers dosed with Ginkgo biloba L. extracts

Liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC/APCI-ITMS) was applied to evaluate the levels of ginkgolides A and B and bilobalide in plasma of volunteers after administration of Ginkgo biloba extracts in free (Ginkgoselect) or phospholipid complex (Ginkgoselect Phytosome) forms, providing 9.6 mg of total terpene lactones. The maximum plasma concentrations, C(max), of total ginkgolides A, B and bilobalide were 85.0 and 181.8 microg/mL for Ginkgoselect and Ginkgoselect Phytosome, respectively. The C(max) values were reached at 120 min for the free form and at 180--240 min for the phospholipid complex form. In both cases, the mean elimination half-life of each terpene lactone was in the range 120--180 min. Due to its sensitivity (about 1 ng/mL) and specificity, LC/APCI-ITMS proved to be a very powerful tool for pharmacokinetic studies of these phytochemicals.     

Preparative isolation and dual column high-performance liquid chromatography of ginkgolic acids from Ginkgo biloba.

A chromatographic procedure for the preparative isolation of six different 6-alkylsalicylic acids (syn. ginkgolic acids) with as alkyl substituents C13:0, C15:0, C15:1, C17:1, C17:2 and, tentatively C17:3 from Ginkgo biloba leaves was developed. The procedure consisted of a combination of normal-phase, reversed-phase and argentation chromatography. The compounds were characterised by means of UV, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry after silylation. A 15 cm C₁₈ RP-HPLC column connected in series with a 20 cm silver(I) loaded cation exchanger HPLC column in combination with the solvent methanol–water (93:7) acidified with 0.1% formic acid was capable of separating the ginkgolic acids C13:0, C15:1, C17:2, C15:0 and C17:1 within 21 min on an analytical scale. The separation is based on a combination of reversed-phase mechanisms and double bond complexation. Detection took place by UV at 311 nm. The separation is a good starting point for the development of a quantitative procedure for the five major ginkgolic acids in Ginkgo leaves and standardised extracts.     

Rapid determination of ginkgolic acids in Ginkgo biloba kernels and leaves by direct analysis in real time‐mass spectrometry

A novel method based on direct analysis in real time integrated with mass spectrometry was established and applied into rapid determination of ginkgolic acids in Ginkgo biloba kernels and leaves. Instrument parameter settings were optimized to obtain the sensitive and accurate determination of ginkgolic acids. At the sample introduction speed of 0.2 mm/s, high intensity of [M–H]^– ions for ginkgolic acids were observed in the negative ion mode by utilization of high‐purity helium gas at 450°C. Two microliters of methanol extract of G. biloba kernels or leaves dropped on the surface of Quick‐Strip module was analyzed after solvent evaporated to dryness. A series of standard solutions of ginkgolic acid 13:0 in the range of 2–50 mg/L were analyzed with a correlation coefficient r  = 0.9981 and relative standard deviation (n  = 5) from 12.5 to 13.7%. The limit of detection was 0.5 mg/L. The results of direct analysis in real time‐mass spectrometry were in agreement with those observed by thermochemolysis gas chromatography. The proposed method demonstrated significant potential in the application of the high‐throughput screening and rapid analysis for ginkgolic acids in dietary supplements.     

Chemistry and biology of terpene trilactones from Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba, the ginkgo tree, is the oldest living tree, with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, the leaf extracts have been widely sold as phytomedicine in Europe and as a dietary supplement worldwide. Effects of Ginkgo biloba extracts have been postulated to include improvement of memory, increased blood circulation, as well as beneficial effects to sufferers of Alzheimer's disease. The most unique components of the extracts are the terpene trilactones, that is, ginkgolides and bilobalide. These structurally complex molecules have been attractive targets for total synthesis. Terpene trilactones are believed to be partly responsible for the neuromodulatory properties of Ginkgo biloba extracts, and several biological effects of the terpene trilactones have been discovered in recent years, making them attractive pharmacological tools that could provide insight into the effects of Ginkgo biloba extracts.     

Single-laboratory validation for the determination of terpene lactones in Ginkgo biloba dietary supplement crude materials and finished products by high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detection

A single-laboratory validation was completed for a method to determine total terpene lactones in Ginkgo biloba products. The method determines terpene lactones on the basis of the main terpene lactones (Bilobalide, Ginkgolide A, Ginkgolide B, Ginkgolide C, and Ginkgolide J) by high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detection after extraction. Nine matrixes were chosen for study, including crude leaf material, standardized dry powder extract, single- and multiple-entity finished products, and alcohol and glycerin tinctures. The sample purification with prepacked columns allows selective extraction of the terpene lactones with no interferences from any matrix under study. A Youden ruggedness trial testing 7 instrumental and preparation factors with the potential to affect quantitative results showed that 2 factors (volume of the column elution solvent and pH of the diluent) were the most important parameters to control during sample preparation. The method performed well in terms of precision; 4 matrixes tested in triplicate over a 3-day period showed an overall repeatability relative standard deviation (RSD) of about 3%. HorRat values were within the limits for performance acceptability, ranging from 0.5 to 1.0. Analysis of variance testing at a = 0.05 showed no significant differences among the within-or between-group sources of variation, although comparison of within-day, between-day, and total precision showed that most of the RSD came from within-day determinations except those for the Ginkgo dry extract (Gb-SLV-2). Accuracy testing at 4 concentration levels of terpene lactones obtained by spiking a negative control matrix at approximately 300, 750, 1500, and 2250 microg/mL gave recoveries of about 91% for the 300 microg/mL level, about 98% for the 750 microg/mL level, about 99% for the 1500 microg/mL level, and 97% for the 2250 microg/mL level with an overall recovery of 96% and an RSD of 3.2%.     

Adsorption separation of terpene lactones from Ginkgo biloba L. extract using glass fiber membranes modified with octadecyltrichlorosilane

In this study porous glass fiber membranes were modified by reaction with octadecyl-trichlorosilane to form C18 hydrophobic membranes. The contact angle and the CH2 vibration bands at 2855 and 2920 cm(-1) found by FTIR measurements verified the successful immobilization of C18 groups on the glass fiber membranes. The resulting C18 hydrophobic membranes were used to adsorb terpene lactones from crude Ginkgo biloba L. extracts. In batch adsorption processes, the modified C18 membranes exhibited a better adsorption performance than commercial C18 solid phase extraction adsorbents. Different desorption solvents were tested and ethyl acetate was found to preferentially desorb terpene lactones from the modified C18 membranes. In flow adsorption experiments at 1 mL/min, terpene lactone contents higher than 6 wt% (the standardized content) could be achieved in the elution step using ethyl acetate.     

A new capillary zone electrophoresis method for the analysis of Ginkgo biloba extracts and Ginkgo biloba pharmaceutical products

Ginkgo biloba, traditional Chinese medicine is now generally accepted. Separation and determination of active components in G. biloba is important for the product quality control. Therefore, the development of an effective and reliable separation method is important. In this work, a new capillary electrophoretic (CZE) method for separation of the G. biloba leaf extracts components was developed and optimized by the use of experimental design and artificial neural network (ANN). Under best separation conditions, in gamma-CD-modified buffer, the separation was reached within 10 min (36 mM borate BGE, pH 9.2, 1 mM gamma-CD), while the hydrodynamic mode for sample injection (2 s) and UV detection at 270 nm were applied. The method developed was validated and applied for analysis of various extracts and G. biloba products.     

Quantitative determination of major active components in Ginkgo biloba dietary supplements by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/ESI-MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of ten major active components in Ginkgo biloba extract (bilobalide, ginkgolides A, B, C, quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, rutin hydrate, quercetin-3-beta-D-glucoside and quercitrin hydrate) which have not been previously reported to be quantified in a single analysis. The ten components exhibit baseline separation in 50 min by C18 chromatography using a water/1:1 (v/v) methanol/acetonitrile gradient. Quantitation was performed using negative ESI-MS in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Good reproducibility and recovery were obtained by this method. The sensitivity of both UV and different mass spectrometry modes (full scan, selected ion monitoring (SIM), and selected reaction monitoring (SRM)) were compared and both quantitation with and without internal standard were evaluated. The analysis of Ginkgo biloba commercial products showed remarkable variations in the rutin and quercetin content as well as the terpene lactone contents although all the products satisfy the conventional quality control method.     

Liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry of terpenoid lactones in Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo) is one of most frequently used botanical dietary supplements. The bioactive constituents include the terpenoid lactones consisting of bilobalide and the ginkgolides A, B, C and J. A new assay based on high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was developed for the measurement of the terpenoid lactones in ginkgo products such as leaf powder and extracts. Initially, the MS/MS fragmentation pathways of ginkgolides were investigated to identify abundant fragment ions that might be useful for the sensitive and selective detection of ginkgolides and bilobalide during LC/MS/MS. Then, sample preparation and clean-up procedures were streamlined to maximize throughput by taking advantage of the selectivity of LC/MS/MS detection. Analyte recoveries exceeded 90%, the intra-assay and inter-assay relative standard deviations were <5%, the relative error was <8% and the limits of detection and quantification were 3.6-120 and 11-350 fmol, depending on the analyte that was injected on to the LC column. Therefore, this LC/MS/MS assay facilitated the rapid quantitative analysis of ginkgolides A, B, C and J and bilobalide in ginkgo dietary supplements with excellent recovery, reproducibity, accuracy and sensitivity.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of glucosamine in commercial dietary supplements using indirect fluorescence detection

A method of using indirect fluorescence detection is evaluated for the analysis of glucosamine in commercial dietary supplements following chromatographic separation. In this method, the eluting analyte, glucosamine, was detected by monitoring an increase in the fluorescence signal for L-tryptophan (L-Trp) or DL-5-methoxytryptophan (5-MTP) after glucosamine complexed with a copper(II) ion and released either L-Trp or 5-MTP from a copper(II) complex, which is introduced postcolumn. The fluorescence of L-Trp and 5-MTP are quenched when complexed with the copper(II) ion. The results obtained using indirect fluorescence detection are compared with the results obtained for precolumn derivatization with phenylisothiocyanate. Statistical analysis is performed to compare the results obtained for the two postcolumn interaction components, Cu(L-Trp)2 and Cu(5-MTP)2, as well as the results obtained using the indirect fluorescence detection method and a precolumn derivatization method. The indirect fluorescence detection method provided an alternative to precolumn derivatization for determining the concentration of glucosamine in commercial dietary supplements. The stability of the glucosamine-o-phthalaldehyde-3-mercaptopropionic acid derivative is also evaluated to investigate the applicability of the popular precolumn derivatization reagent, o-phthalaldehyde-3-mercaptopropionic acid, for this analysis.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of free palmitic and stearic acids in cerebrospinal fluid

A relatively simple method for extraction of free fatty acids from cerebrospinal fluid with aminopropyl bonded-phase columns, and the estimation of palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis is described. The values of C16:0 and C18:0 in patients with non-neurological disorders lie within a narrow range, with a mean (+/- S.D.) of 4.02 +/- 0.33 micrograms/ml for C16:0 and 2.72 +/- 0.39 micrograms/ml for C18:0.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of Kava lactones from Kava root and their separation via supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary Seven Kava lactones were extracted from Kava root using both pure and 15% ethanol modified CO₂. Most of the Kava lactones were extracted employing 100% CO₂ with an efficiency greater than 90% relative to conventional solvent extraction using organic solvents. Extraction efficiency did not increase significantly when using 15% ethanol-modified CO₂ as an extraction fluid. Separation of extracted Kava lactones was obtained using various packed columns and methanol-modified CO₂. An optimized separation was achieved using either an amino or protein C₄ column at 125 atm and 80°C. Semi-preparative separation of Kava lactones was also obtained using two columns connected in series.     

Determination of anabolic steroids in creatine nutritional supplements after supercritical fluid extraction

The effects of various parameters, i.e. extraction pressure, temperature, time, and modifier on the efficiency of extraction were investigated using an analytical-scale supercritical fluid extraction system. An optimal set of conditions for the extraction and determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of trimethylsilyl derivatives of 4-androstene-3,17-dione, 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione, nandrolone, and testosterone in nutritional supplements was developed. The optimum amount of creatine supplement was 1 g, while the optimum pressure and temperature were determined to be 35 MPa and 80 °C, respectively. The optimum dynamic extraction time was 45 min. The limit of detection (LOD) of the investigated compounds ranged from 5 to 25 ng · g⁻¹ of supplement, while recoveries ranged from 76.1 to 86.6%. Correspondence: Petra Mikulcikova, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, nám. Cs. Legií 565, CZ 532 10 Pardubice, Czech Republic     

Application of reverse-flow micellar electrokinetic chromatography for the simultaneous determination of flavonols and terpene trilactones in Ginkgo biloba dosage forms

A reverse-flow micellar electrokinetic chromatographic (RF-MEKC) method was developed for the simultaneous qualitative determination of 10 components consisting of the flavonol glycosides, rutin and quercitrin, the flavonol aglycones, isorhamnetin, kaempferol and quercetin, the terpene trilactones, ginkgolides A, B, C and J and the sesquiterpene, bilobalide. This method was used to fingerprint Ginkgo biloba solid oral dosage forms and validated for the quantitation of the marker compounds, rutin and quercetin in some commercial products. In addition to the usual variables, the influence of some essential background electrolyte (BGE) components such as sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and -cyclodextrin concentrations were investigated. A polyimide fused-silica square capillary column (75 microm I.D. x 360 microm O.D.) with a total length of 60.0 cm and effective length of 45.0 cm was used for the separation. The final BGE consisted of 20 mM phosphoric acid, 40 mM SDS and 12 mM -cyclodextrin (pH 2.2) using reverse polarity with a voltage of -17.5 kV. Samples were injected electrokinetically at -5 kV for 3 s for the qualitative analysis and hydrodynamically at 20 mbar for 0.6 s for the quantitative assay. The total run time was 22 min and the limits of detection were 3.13 microg/ml and 1.88 microg/ml for rutin and quercetin, respectively. Fingerprint profiles of the solid oral dosage forms and the results of the quantitative analysis indicated that there were major discrepancies in the marker content between products and illustrates the value of this method for use as a procedure to assess product quality of commercially available Ginkgo biloba products.     

High-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry study of ginkgolic acid in the leaves and fruits of the ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)

A method is developed for qualitative analysis of ginkgolic acids in the leaves and fruits of Ginkgo biloba by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry technique. Negative ionization mode is successful in obtaining a very abundant deprotonated molecule [M - H]-. The mass detection sensitivity is higher than ultraviolet detection but relies heavily on the concentration of acetic acid in the HPLC eluent, which consists of acetonitrile-water-acetic acid. The method is also very specific for the analysis of ginkgolic acid with no interferences from the sample matrix.