ESI-MS Detection Research Articles

Unveiling New Arsenic Compounds in Plants via Tailored 2D-RP-HPLC Separation with ICP and ESI MS Detection.

Arsenic (As) speciation analysis is scientifically relevant due to the pivotal role the As chemical form plays in toxicity, which, in turn, directly influences the effect it has on the environment. The objective of this study was to develop and optimize a method tailored for studying As compounds in plant samples. Different extraction procedures and HPLC methods were explored to assess their efficiency, determine mass balance, and improve the resolution of compounds in the chromatograms. Conventionally applied anion-exchange chromatography facilitated the separation of well-documented As compounds in the extracts corresponding to 19 to 82% of As present in extracts. To gain insight into compounds which remain undetectable by anion chromatography (18 to 81% of As in the extracts), but still possibly metabolically relevant, we explored an alternative chromatographic approach. The procedure of sample purification and preconcentration through solid-phase extraction, facilitating the detection of those minor As compounds, was developed. The system was further refined to achieve an online 2D-RP-HPLC system, which was employed to analyze the extracts more comprehensively with ICP and ESI MS. Using this newly developed method, As(III)-phytochelatins, along with other arseno-thio-compounds, were detected and identified in extracts derived from the tree roots of seedlings grown in the presence of As(III) and As(V), and a group of arseno lipids was detected in the roots of plants exposed to As(V).

Screening of ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase and metabolic engineering to achieve de novo biosynthesis of ent-copalol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The diterpene ent-copalol is an important precursor to the synthesis of andrographolide and is found only in green chiretta (Andrographis paniculata). De novo biosynthesis of ent-copalol has not been reported, because the catalytic activity of ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase (CPS) is very low in microorganisms. In order to achieve the biosynthesis of ent-copalol, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was selected as the chassis strain, because its endogenous mevalonate pathway and dephosphorylases could provide natural promotion for the synthesis of ent-copalol. The strain capable of synthesizing diterpene geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate was constructed by strengthening the mevalonate pathway genes and weakening the competing pathway. Five full-length ApCPSs were screened by transcriptome sequencing of A. paniculata and ApCPS2 had the best activity and produced ent-CPP exclusively. The peak area of ent-copalol was increased after the ApCPS2 saturation mutation and its configuration was determined by NMR and ESI-MS detection. By appropriately optimizing acetyl-CoA supply and fusion-expressing key enzymes, 35.6 mg/L ent-copalol was generated. In this study, de novo biosynthesis and identification of ent-copalol were achieved and the highest titer ever reported. It provides a platform strain for the further pathway analysis of andrographolide and derivatives and provides a reference for the synthesis of other pharmaceutical intermediates.

Generation, Spectroscopic Characterization, and Computational Analysis of a Six-Coordinate Cobalt(III)-Imidyl Complex with an Unusual S = 3/2 Ground State that Promotes N-Group and Hydrogen Atom-Transfer Reactions with Exogenous Substrates.

We report the synthesis and characterization of a mononuclear nonheme cobalt(III)-imidyl complex, [Co(NTs)(TQA)(OTf)]+ (1), with an S = 3/2 spin state that is capable of facilitating exogenous substrate modifications. Complex 1 was generated from the reaction of CoII(TQA)(OTf)2 with PhINTs at -20 °C. A flow setup with ESI-MS detection was used to explore the kinetics of the formation, stability, and degradation pathway of 1 in solution by treating the Co(II) precursor with PhINTs. Co K-edge XAS data revealed a distinct shift in the Co K-edge compared to the Co(II) precursor, in agreement with the formation of a Co(III) intermediate. The unusual S = 3/2 spin state was proposed based on EPR, DFT, and CASSCF calculations and Co Kβ XES results. Co K-edge XAS and IR photodissociation (IRPD) spectroscopies demonstrate that 1 is a six-coordinate species, and IRPD and resonance Raman spectroscopies are consistent with 1 being exclusively the isomer with the NT ligand occupying the vacant site trans to the TQA aliphatic amine nitrogen atom. Electronic structure calculations (broken symmetry DFT and CASSCF/NEVPT2) demonstrate an S = 3/2 oxidation state resulting from the strong antiferromagnetic coupling of an •NTs spin to the high-spin S = 2 Co(III) center. Reactivity studies of 1 with PPh3 derivatives revealed its electrophilic characteristic in the nitrene-transfer reaction. While the activation of C-H bonds by 1 was proved to be kinetically challenging, 1 could oxidize weak O-H and N-H bonds. Complex 1 is, therefore, a rare example of a Co(III)-imidyl complex capable of exogenous substrate transformations.

Comparative study on the deamidation of three recombinant human insulins using capillary electrophoresis

The applicability of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) for the separation of different recombinant human insulins and their deamidated isoforms was studied. The high resolving power of CZE is demonstrated by its ability to separate insulin isoforms differing only by 0.984 Da (different-fold deamidated forms) and even components having the exacts same mass but slightly different shapes (same-fold deamidated forms). From among the several insulins available, humulin, glargine and glulisine were selected for our study because their sequences and chemical parameters are quite similar, however, the small differences present in their amino acid sequences influence the deamidation processes. Using a background electrolyte with basic pH was favourable not only for the separation of the different types of insulin but also for the separation of deamidated protein forms even in a bare fused silica capillary. The LOD values ranged between 0.6 - 0.93 mg/L and 2.17 - 4.37 mg/L for UV and ESI-MS detection, respectively. At -20 - -80 °C, the deamidation is minimal, but at temperatures above +5 °C deamidation is accelerated. At +5 °C only 1-fold deamidation forms could be observed for each insulin. Acidified samples incubated for 1-month at room temperature showed varying levels of deamidation: 1-fold, 1–2-fold and 1–2–3-fold forms for glargine, glulisine and humulin, respectively.

Determination of human insulin and its six therapeutic analogues by capillary electrophoresis – mass spectrometry

In this work, human insulin and its 6 analogues were separated and determined using CZE-MS. Three different capillaries (bare fused silica, successive multiple ionic-polymer layer (SMIL) and static linear polyacrylamide (LPA) coated) were compared based on their separation performances in their optimal operating conditions. Coated capillaries demonstrated slightly better separation of the components, although some components showed wide, distorted peaks. The highest plate number could be obtained in the SMIL capillary (192 000/m). For UV and ESI-MS detection relatively similar LOD values were obtained (0.3–1.2 mg/L and 1.0–3.4 mg/L, respectively). The application of MS detection provided useful structural information and unambiguous identification for insulins having similar or the same molecular mass. This work is considered to be important not only for the investigation of insulins but also for its potential contribution to the top-down analysis of proteins using CE-MS.

Development of transient trapping micellar electrokinetic chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for steroids analysis.

An on-line sample preconcentration technique based on transient trapping (tr-trapping) in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) was applied for steroid detection with UV (tr-trapping-UV) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection (tr-trapping-ESI-MS). ESI-MS was used to improve the sensitivity in MEKC. The MEKC separation was carried out using volatile ammonium formate as a background solution to facilitate the coupling with ESI-MS. The partial introduction of a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar solution before the introduction of a sample solution to the capillary provided the effective preconcentration of analytes. At the same time, the SDS micelle would not enter the ESI-MS system, so its interference in ESI-MS detection was suppressed under the optimal condition, then five steroids can be separated by the developed method. In tr-trapping-ESI-MS, an acidic condition of pH 3.5 was employed to suppress the electroosmotic flow, which can avoid micellar solution migrating to the MS instrument. The developed method showed that the micellar solution requires a twofold slower time than the sample to migrate along the column, which can prohibit the cause of the problem with the MS instrument and interference signal of SDS in the steroid's detection. The tr-trapping-ESI-MS protocol showed up to 540-fold enhancements of the peak intensity and 50-fold improvement of the limit of detection compared with capillary zone electrophoresis using androsterone as a model sample.

Cationic electrophoretic focusing on inverse electromigration dispersion profile with ESI-MS detection. New capillary electrophoretic method for high-sensitivity analysis of 2-hydroxy-s-triazines in waters

Electrophoretic focusing on an inverse electromigration dispersion profile is a relatively new electrophoretic separation method for the analysis of ionisable analytes. Although it offers alternative selectivity, powerful concentration capability and high sensitivity, so far only several systems for the analysis of anionic compounds were reported. This work describes for the first time a functional electrolyte system for the separation of cationic analytes by this method. Based on computer simulations and calculations, a functional electrolyte system was designed, based on 1-ethylpiperazine and pivalic acid. It is suitable for the analysis of weak bases with pKa values between 4.5 and 6 and due to the volatility of both components, it can be operated in combination with ESI-MS detection. Its practical applicability is demonstrated on direct analysis of four 2-hydroxy-s-triazines in waters. Separation in an uncoated capillary with application of negative pressure at the inlet provides very satisfactory results with good reproducibility of peak areas, peak heights and detection times, and with LODs at the 0.5–1 nM (100 ngL−1) level. The robustness of the method is shown on analyses of real tap and river water samples used without any pretreatment.

UPLC-ESI-MS analysis of salts using a porous graphitic carbon column

A method for the identification and quantification of salts relevant in the analysis of explosives was developed for a porous graphitic carbon (PGC) UPLC/HPLC column combined with ESI-MS detection. The presented method covers a wide range of energetic salts and provide a valuable analytical tool for security, forensic as well as environmental monitoring. Both anionic and cationic species can be identified and quantified in a single chromatographic run. Afterward, analytes can be indubitably identified by LC-MS equipped with an atmospheric pressure ionisation (API) interface. Since the retention mechanism of PGC is due to combination of different interactions, a tunable retention can be obtained by adjustments of the composition of the mobile phase. The use of LC-MS in combination with PGC is an improved alternative to the existing analytical methods based on silica derivatised reversed phase (RP) columns. A high percentage of ammonia in the mobile phase allowed elution of the most highly retained analytes. The effects of different solvents and their combinations and mobile phase additives were evaluated. The developed method improves the energetic salts detection in terms of sensitivity and selectivity. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated by the analysis of a reference mixture of anions and cations.

Comparing the original and biosimilar biotherapeutics of the monoclonal antibody eculizumab by intact mass measurement and middle-up mass spectrometry analysis

Objectives. In this biosimilar research, we compare the monoclonal antibody eculizumab obtained from different drugs [original Soliris® (Alexion Pharmaceuticals) and candidate Elizaria® (Generium)] by intact mass measurement and middle-up mass spectrometry analysis to enhance the role of mass spectrometry methods in biopharmaceutical development processes.Methods. The intact mass measurement is performed using a high-resolution ESI-MS. The middle-up analysis is performed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ESI-MS detection, subsequent IdeS treatment of antibodies, and disulfide bond reduction.Results. We have shown some small differences between the original and candidate drugs in the minor glycans level. Man5 glycan is only found in the original Soliris, and G0 is only found in the Elizaria. Glycation sites are also found in the light chain and Fd subunits of the original Soliris. The glycation level does not exceed 4.4%. The non-clipped C-end lysine level and G0F glycan levels are slightly lower in the original Soliris. All registered differences are not crucial for eculizumab’s quality and do not affect its effectiveness and preclinical safety. Generally, the results show a high level of similarity between the original and candidate drugs.Conclusions. The comparative mass spectrometry analysis of eculizumab in the original Soliris and Elizaria allows us to estimate their high degree of similarity by molecular masses and major modification profiles.

Analysis of flavonoids with unified chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry-method development and application to compounds of pharmaceutical and cosmetic interest.

In this project, we aimed at analysing flavonoid-type compounds with unified chromatography (joining supercritical fluid chromatography and enhanced fluidity liquid chromatography with carbon dioxide-methanol mobile phases covering a wide range of compositions) and diode-array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (UC-DAD-ESI-MS). First, the chromatographic method was developed for 9 standard flavonoid molecules from three different families (flavanols, flavanones and flavonols, glycosylated or not), with a strong focus on mobile phase composition to achieve the elution of a wide range of flavonoids with good chromatographic quality (efficiency and resolution). For this purpose, two stationary phases were selected (ACQUITY UPC2 DEA and Diol), and five different additives (formic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid and ammonium hydroxide) were successively introduced in the methanol co-solvent. The composition containing 0.1% methanesulfonic acid in methanol was retained as it provided the best chromatographic quality together with the possibility of hyphenating the chromatography to mass spectrometry. The DEA column appeared to provide the best efficiency and was retained for further method development. The gradient method was then optimized to achieve a fast analysis, which involved elution with a wide range of mobile phase composition (from 20 to 100% co-solvent in methanol) together with reversed flow rate and reversed pressure gradients at fixed temperature. The final gradient lasted 10min, followed by 2.5min of re-equilibration. Then, ESI-MS detection was optimized. Because the single-quadrupole mass spectrometer employed (ACQUITY UPC2 QDa) allowed the variation of only a few parameters, a design of experiments was used to define the best compromise for three parameters (probe temperature, cone voltage and capillary voltage). The make-up fluid introduced before entering the MS was also varied: different compositions of methanol-water containing either formic acid, ammonium hydroxide or sodium chloride were tested. The best results in terms of signal-to-noise ratio were obtained with methanol containing 20mM ammonium hydroxide and 2% water. The optimal UC-DAD-ESI-MS method was then applied to two different flavonoid formulation ingredients. The first one, hidrosmin (5-O-(β-hydroxyethyl)diosmin), is known for its vasoprotective properties and therefore employed in pharmaceutical formulations. The second one, α-glucosyl-hesperidin (sometimes referred to as vitamin P), is employed in cosmetic formulations. Identification of the major compounds in each sample was achieved with the help of MS detection. Graphical abstract.

Photo-isomerization of palladium(II) N,N-di-substituted acylthioureas: The role of free ligands and formation of mixed-ligand complexes

Photo-irradiation of the cis-[Pd(L1-4-κS,O)2] complexes with visible light leads to formation of trans-[Pd(L1-4-κS,O)2] isomers in acetonitrile, as determined by reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC). In the absence of light, the trans-[Pd(L1-4-κS,O)2] isomers spontaneously revert to cis-[Pd(L1-4-κS,O)2]. The trans-[Pd(L1-4-κS,O)2] → cis-[Pd(L1-4-κS,O)2] reversion was found to be catalyzed by the presence of free HL ligands, and results in the formation of mixed-ligand complexes of the type cis-[Pd(L1-κS,O)(L2-κS,O)] as confirmed by RP-HPLC with ESI-MS detection. The mixed-ligand cis-[Pd(L1-κS,O)(L2-κS,O)] complex also undergoes photo-induced isomerism to form trans-[Pd(L1-κS,O)(L2-κS,O)] isomers in solution with visible light irradiation.

Derivatization of Methylglyoxal for LC-ESI-MS Analysis-Stability and Relative Sensitivity of Different Derivatives.

The great research interest in the quantification of reactive carbonyl compounds (RCCs), such as methylglyoxal (MGO) in biological and environmental samples, is reflected by the fact that several publications have described specific strategies to perform this task. Thus, many reagents have also been reported for the derivatization of RCCs to effectively detect and quantify the resulting compounds using sensitive techniques such as liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). However, the choice of the derivatization protocol is not always clear, and a comparative evaluation is not feasible because detection limits from separate reports and determined with different instruments are hardly comparable. Consequently, for a systematic comparison, we tested 21 agents in one experimental setup for derivatization of RCCs prior to LC-MS analysis. This consisted of seven commonly employed reagents and 14 similar reagents, three of which were designed and synthesized by us. All reagents were probed for analytical responsiveness of the derivatives and stability of the reaction mixtures. The results showed that derivatives of 4-methoxyphenylenediamine and 3-methoxyphenylhydrazine—reported here for the first time for derivatization of RCCs—provided a particularly high responsiveness with ESI-MS detection. We applied the protocol to investigate MGO contamination of laboratory water and show successful quantification in a lipoxidation experiment. In summary, our results provide valuable information for scientists in establishing accurate analysis of RCCs.

Electrophoretic focusing on inverse electromigration dispersion gradient. The fundamental resolution equation and pressure-assisted performance enhancement

Electrophoretic focusing on inverse electromigration dispersion (EMD) gradient is a new analytical technique based on a unique separation principle where weak non-amphoteric ionogenic species are focused, separated and transported to the detector by an EMD profile of suitable properties. The present work extends the theoretical description of this method by introducing the concept of resolution and deriving the fundamental equation expressing resolution as function of basic system parameters. The results indicate that at constant current operation, resolution is proportional to the square root of time. For variable current regimes (e.g. constant voltage), the time variable is replaced by the product of electric current and passed electric charge. Computer simulations for a model pair of substances support the validity of the presented theory and confirm the theoretical conclusion that resolution can be increased by allowing longer electromigration of the gradient in terms of time or passed charge. The experimental example shown comprises an anionic electrolyte system based on maleic acid and 2,6-lutidine, combined with ESI–MS detection and operated in the reverse mode due to strong electroosmotic flow and ESI suction. The practical implementation of the proposed methodology is done by application of negative pressure at the inlet vial, resulting in very substantial resolution enhancement and baseline separation of otherwise unresolved substances. The performance and high sensitivity of the developed technique is demonstrated on the example of simultaneous analysis of four sulfonamides and three dichlorophenols in waters with limits of detection on the 1 nM level.

Quantitative and comparative liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analyses of hydrogen sulfide and thiol metabolites derivaitized with 2-iodoacetanilide isotopologues

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), previously known as a toxic gas, is now recognized as a gasotransmitter along with nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. However, only few methods are available for quantitative determination of H2S in biological samples. 2-Iodoacetanilide (2-IAN), a thiol-reacting agent, has been used to tag the reduced cysteine residues of proteins for quantitative proteomics and for detection of cysteine oxidation modification. In this article, we proposed a new method for quantitative analyses of H2S and thiol metabolites using the procedure of pre-column 2-IAN derivatization coupled with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI–MS). 13C6-Labeled and label-free 2-IAN efficiently react with H2S and thiol compounds at pH 9.5 and 65 °C. The derivatives exhibit excellent stability at alkaline conditions, high resolution on reverse phase liquid chromatography and great sensitivity for ESI–MS detection. The measurement of H2S, l-cysteine, glutathione, and DL-homocysteine derivatives was validated using 13C6-labeled standard in LC-ESI–MS analyses and exhibited 10 nM–1 μM linear ranges for DL-homocysteine and glutathione and 1 nM–1 μM linear ranges for l-cysteine and H2S. In addition, the sequence of derivatization and extraction of metabolites is important in the quantification of thiol metabolites suggesting the presence of matrix effects. Most importantly, labeling with 2-IAN and 13C6-2-IAN isotopologues could achieve quantitative and matched sample comparative analyses with minimal bias using our extraction and labeling procedures before LC–MS analysis.

Supercritical fluid chromatography-photodiode array detection-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry as a framework for impurity fate mapping in the development and manufacture of drug substances

Impurity fate and purge studies are critical in order to establish an effective impurity control strategy for approval of the commercial filing application of new medicines. Reversed phase liquid chromatography-diode array-mass spectrometry (RPLC-DAD-MS) has traditionally been the preferred tool for impurity fate mapping. However, separation of some reaction mixtures by LC can be very problematic requiring combination LC-UV for area % analysis and a different LC-MS method for peak identification. In addition, some synthetic intermediates might be chemically susceptible to the aqueous conditions used in RPLC separations. In this study, the use of supercritical fluid chromatography-photodiode array-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (SFC-PDA-ESIMS) for fate and purge of two specified impurities in the 1-uridine starting material from the synthesis of a bis-piv 2′keto-uridine, an intermediate in the synthesis of uprifosbuvir, a treatment under investigation for chronic hepatitis C infection. Readily available SFC instrumentation with a Chiralpak IC column (4.6 × 150 mm, 3 μm) and ethanol: carbon dioxide based mobile phase eluent enabled the separation of closely related components from complex reaction mixtures where RLPC failed to deliver optimal chromatographic performance. These results illustrate how SFC combined with PDA and ESI-MS detection can become a powerful tool for direct impurity fate mapping across multiple reaction steps.

Capillary moving-boundary isotachophoresis with electrospray ionization mass-spectrometric detection and hydrogen ion used as essential terminator: Methodology for sensitive analysis of hydroxyderivatives of s-triazine herbicides in waters

Capillary isotachophoresis (ITP) is an electrophoretic technique offering high sensitivity due to permanent stacking of the migrating analytes. Its combination with electrospray-ionization mass-spectrometric (ESI–MS) detection is limited by the narrow spectrum of ESI-compatible components but can be compensated by experienced system architecture. This work describes a methodology for sensitive analysis of hydroxyderivatives of s-triazine herbicides, based on implementation of the concepts of moving-boundary isotachophoresis and of H+ as essential terminating component into cationic ITP with ESI–MS detection. Theoretical description of such kind of system is given and equations for zone-related boundary mobilities are derived, resulting in a much more general definition of the effective mobility of the terminating H+ zone than used so far. Explicit equations allowing direct calculation for selected simple systems are derived. The presented theory allows prediction of stacking properties of particular systems and easy selection of suitable electrolyte setups. A simple ESI-compatible system composed of acetic acid and ammonium with H+ and ammonium as a mixed terminator was selected for the analysis of 2-hydroxyatrazine and 2-hydroxyterbutylazine, degradation products of s-triazine herbicides. The proposed method was tested with direct injection without any sample pretreatment and provided excellent linearity and high sensitivity with limits of detection below 100ng/L (0.5nM). Example analyses of unspiked and spiked drinking and river water are shown.

Isolation and structure elucidation of cyclopeptide alkaloids from Ziziphus nummularia and Ziziphus spina-christi by HPLC-DAD-MS and HPLC-PDA-(HRMS)-SPE-NMR

Seven cyclopeptide alkaloids were isolated from the stem bark of Ziziphus nummularia and Ziziphus spina-christi. Three previously undescribed compounds were identified: nummularine-U, spinanine-B and spinanine-C, together with the known compounds mauritine-F, nummularine-D, nummularine-E and amphibine-D. For their purification either semi-preparative HPLC with DAD and ESIMS detection or HPLC-PDA-(HRMS)-SPE-NMR was applied, together with conventional separation methods. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic means.

Mixed-chalcogenide diplatinum complexes; an investigation of ligand exchange processes using ESI mass spectrometry

Routes to mixed-chalcogen diplatinum complexes have been explored using Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS) as a powerful technique to probe reaction solutions on the microscale. Exchange reactions of binuclear platinum(II) complexes [Pt2(µ-E)2(PPh3)4] (E=S, 1; Se, 2) with each other, or reactions with the elemental chalcogens [viz. complex 1 with Se, and complex 2 with S8] all had limited success in forming the mixed species [Pt2(μ-S)(μ-Se)(PPh3)4]. Reactions of complex 1 with Ph2Se2 and 2 with Ph2S2 resulted in the ESI MS detection of novel arylated mixed-chalcogenide complexes [Pt2(µ-S)(µ-SePh)(PPh3)4]+ and [Pt2(µ-Se)(µ-SPh)(PPh3)4]+, respectively. The analogous reactions of 1 and 2 with diaryl ditellurides R2Te2 (R=Ph, p-EtOC6H4) resulted in the ESI MS detection of the trinuclear aggregates [{Pt(PPh3)}3(µ3-E)(µ-TeR)3]+ and the mixed-chalcogenide complexes [Pt2(µ-E)(µ-TeR)(PPh3)4]+ (E=S, Se; R=Ph, p-EtOC6H4). The compound [{Pt(PPh3)}3(µ3-Se)(µ-TePh)3]PF6 was synthesised on the macroscopic scale, and characterised by elemental analysis and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study.

Isolation and Structure Elucidation by LC-DAD-MS and LC-DAD-SPE-NMR of Cyclopeptide Alkaloids from the Roots of Ziziphus oxyphylla and Evaluation of Their Antiplasmodial Activity.

Nine cyclopeptide alkaloids (1-9), of which five (compounds 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9) are described herein for the first time, were isolated from roots of Ziziphus oxyphylla by means of conventional separation methods as well as semipreparative HPLC with DAD and ESIMS detection and LC-DAD-SPE-NMR. Structure elucidation was done by spectroscopic means. Nummularine-R (1), a previously known constituent from this species, was isolated along with its new derivatives O-desmethylnummularine-R (2) and O-desmethylnummularine-R N-oxide (3). In addition, the known compounds hemsine-A (4) and ramosine-A (6), as well as hemsine-A N-oxide (5), were isolated. Moreover, oxyphylline-C (7), a known constituent of Z.oxyphylla stems, was obtained, and two new compounds were identified, oxyphyllines-E (8) and -F (9). Just like oxyphylline-C, oxyphyllines-E and -F belong to the relatively rare class of neutral cyclopeptide alkaloids. The antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of compounds 1, 2, 4, 6, and 9 were evaluated, and the most promising activity was found for O-desmethylnummularine-R (2), which exhibited an IC50 value of 3.2 ± 2.6 μM against Plasmodium falciparum K1, whereas an IC50 value of >64.0 μM was evident for its cytotoxicity against MRC-5 cells.

Phenolic composition of fruits from different cultivars of red and black raspberries grown in Poland

Fruits of 11 varieties of Rubus idaeus and 1 variety of Rubus occidentalis cultivated in Poland, were analyzed in terms of phenolic composition. The qualitative and quantitative determination of phenolics was performed by means of HPLC-DAD coupled with ESI–MS detector. Quantitative determination of anthocyanins, revealed significant differences in the levels of major anthocyanins in most red raspberry varieties, of which cyanidin 3-O-sophoroside was the most prevalent one. Black raspberries displayed 4–11 times more anthocyanin content compared to red raspberries, with the dominating anthocyanins being cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside and cyanidin 3-O-xylosyl-rutinoside.Sanguiin H-6 was the main ellagitannin identified in all varieties, with ‘Beskid’, ‘Laszka’, ‘Polana’ and ‘Litacz’ standing out as the richest sources of sanguiin H-6. Ellagic acid was at similar, low concentrations, with the highest levels observed in ‘Willamette’. A number of other compounds belonging to flavonols, flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids, were found at much lower levels than anthocyanins and ellagitannins, with the presence of procyanidins B1 and B2 being reported for the first time in the fruits of black raspberries. Data obtained on the variation in content of major and minor phenolic compounds between raspberry varieties highlights the most valuable cultivars to be used as a dietary source of phenolic compounds.