title: Qualitative and quantitative determination of ten major saponins in Platycodi Radix by high performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection and mass spectrometry.
abstract: Saponins in Platycodi Radix (platycosides) exhibit potent biological activities in mammalian systems, including several beneficial effects such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-obesity activities. In this study, we developed a new HPLC separation coupled with evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) for the simultaneous quantitative determination of ten major saponins in Platycodi Radix. Simultaneous separation of these saponins was achieved on a C18 analytical column. The mobile phase consisted of a gradient of aqueous acetonitrile. The method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection and quantification. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and liquid chromatography coupled with on-line mass spectrometry (LC-ESI MS/MS) were applied to identify platycosides in the purified fractions and in the crude extract. Under ESI-MS/MS conditions, the fragmentation patterns of [M-H]- ions exclusively show signals corresponding to cleavage of the glycosidic bonds, thus allowing a rapid identification of saponins in the crude extract of Platycodi Radix. The validated HPLC method provides a new basis of overall assessment on quality of Platycodi Radix, and ESI-MS/MS and LC-ESI MS/MS approaches offers analytical tools for a rapid screening of platycosides in the crude extract.
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, 28 Yeonkun-Dong, Jongno-Ku, Seoul 110-460, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Wan
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Yun-Cheol
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Jung-Ju
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Soo-Na
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Linhardt
authors.forename: Yeong Shik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012503:Saponins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012503:Saponins