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 becaus e insufficient material is present. In both instances, however, coupli ng liquid chromatography with thermospray mass spectrometry has proved to be ideal for the direct detection of these compounds. Different ex amples of analyses of bioactive constituents (including ginkgolides, s esquiterpene lactones, acetogenins and saponins) in crude plant extrac ts are described. Total ion current traces and mass chromatograms allo w the easy detection of these compounds in the extracts. Depending on the ionization pattern, [M + H]+ or [M + NH4]+ ions are used for selec ted ion monitoring studies.