Abstract
A rapid, specific, and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS) method to examine the chemical differences between Aconitum herbs and processed products has been developed and validated. Combined with chemometrics analysis of principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projection to latent structural discriminate analysis, diester-diterpenoid and monoester-type alkaloids, especially the five alkaloids which contributed to the chemical distinction between Aconitum herbs and processed products, namely mesaconitine (MA), aconitine (AC), hypaconitine (HA), benzoylmesaconitine (BMA), and benzoylhypaconitine (BHA), were picked out. Further, the five alkaloids and benzoylaconitine (BAC) have been simultaneously determined in the Xiaohuoluo pill. Chromatographic separations were achieved on a C18 column and peaks were detected by mass spectrometry in positive ion mode and selected ion recording (SIR) mode. In quantitative analysis, the six alkaloids showed good regression, (r) > 0.9984, within the test ranges. The lower limit quantifications (LLOQs) for MA, AC, HA, BMA, BAC, and BHA were 1.41, 1.20, 1.92, 4.28, 1.99 and 2.02 ng·mL−1, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 99.7% to 101.7%. The validated method was applied successfully in the analysis of the six alkaloids from different samples, in which significant variations were revealed. Results indicated that the developed assay can be used as an appropriate quality control assay for Xiaohuoluo pill and other herbal preparations containing Aconitum roots.
Highlights
The genus Aconitum, under which there are many plant species, is one of the most important genera of medicinal plants in China
The highest content is of the C19-diterpenoid-type alkaloids [3,4], which is composed mainly of the Aconitum alkaloids, which comprise the following three main types of alkaloids: diester-diterpenoid alkaloids, such as aconitine (AC), mesaconitine (MA), and hypaconitine (HA); monoester alkaloids, such as benzoylaconine (BAC), benzoylmesaconine (BMA), and benoylhypaconine (BHA); and amine alcohol-type alkaloids [5,6,7]
This study aimed to reveal the Aconitum alkaloids in Aconitum herbs and their quality control
Summary
The genus Aconitum, under which there are many plant species, is one of the most important genera of medicinal plants in China. Radix Aconiti (RA), the dried maternal root of Aconitum carmichaeli. Debx., and Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii (RAK), the dried earthnut root of Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb. RA and RAK, being the most significant representatives of Aconitum [1,2], have been used widely in many Chinese medicinal preparations for eliminating wind and dampness, and for warming the channels to relieve pain. The main constituents of Aconitum spp. are C18-, C19-, C20-diterpenoid-type and other types of alkaloids. Due to the significant biological activity and the toxicity of its alkaloids, Aconitum has attracted more and more the attention of researchers [17,18]
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