Selective and sensitive sensing of mercuric ions by natural compound qingyangshengenin

Abstract

Mercuric ion (Hg2+) is acknowledged as one of the most dangerous contaminants, originating from a range of natural sources and industrial wastes. Hence, it is very important to design and develop highly selective and sensitive probes for the quick detection of Hg2+ in aquatic environments. In view of this, in the presented study a biocompatible C21-steroidal aglycone, qingyangshengenin (1), has been isolated from 95% ethanol extracts of the roots of Cynanchum otophyllum Schneid and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The obtained natural product had been used as photoluminescent sensor for selective and sensitive detection of mercuric cation with limit of detection of 1.61 ppm and KSV value of 7.46 × 102 M−1. Also, interference experiments revealed that 1 can selectively detect Hg2+ ion in presence of other metal cations. Further, theoretical calculations have been done to assess the reason for selectivity of this steroid against the mercuric ion. The integrated experimental and theoretical studies reveals that the plausible reason for the selectively and sensitivity of qingyangshengenin to detect Hg2+ was accredited to the better interaction between Hg2+ and qingyangshengenin.