LC/ES-MS analysis of triterpene glycosides: Rapid estimation of the saponin content of dried berries of Phytolacca dodecandra

A liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric (MS) method involving electrosp ray ionization together with up-front collision-induced dissociation, tande m MS or MSn fragmentation has been developed for rapid online characterizat ion of triterpene glycosides. Sensitive detection was obtained by post-colu mn addition of alkaline buffer, providing intense deprotonated molecular io ns, The experimental method has provided information on the sugar sequence and aglycone of each saponin within a crude plant extract. The method has b een applied for the rapid estimation of saponin content ire methanolic and aqueous extracts of dried berries of Phytolacca dodecandra a (Phytolaccacea e). Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.