Simultaneous analysis of hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids and N-oxides in comfrey root by LC-Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry

WUILLOUD, JCA O ALTAMIRANO, JC; ROBERT GRATZ, SAMUEL; GAMBEL, BRYAN; A WOLNIK, KAREN

ANALYST

Royal Society of Chemistry

Lugar: London; Año: 2004 vol. 129 p. 150 - 156

0003-2654

The purpose of the current study was to develop a LC-MSn method for the separation and identification of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in comfrey. Published data presents an extensive list of PAs and their N-oxides present in comfrey. However, standards are not commercially available for any of the PAs typically present in comfrey. Those PAs that are not isomers were readily resolved on a C18 column using a water-acetonitrile gradient as the mobile phase. The use of a selective technique, LC-MS/MS, allowed us to identify several PAs and their N-oxides, including those that were not completely resolved chromatographically.