USE OF LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY THERMOSPRAY MASS-SPECTROMETRY IN PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF CRUDE PLANT-EXTRACTS

Qualitative analyses of selected compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography of crude plant extracts are not always straightforward owing to the lack of a suitable chromophore for UV detection or because insufficient material is present. In both instances, however, coupling liquid chromatography with thermospray mass spectrometry has proved to be ideal for the direct detection of these compounds. Different examples of analyses of bioactive constituents (including ginkgolides, sesquiterpene lactones, acetogenins and saponins) in crude plant extracts are described. Total ion current traces and mass chromatograms allow the easy detection of these compounds in the extracts. Depending on the ionization pattern, [M + H]+ or [M + NH4]+ ions are used for selected ion monitoring studies.