title: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry as a chemotaxonomic tool for the analysis of Gentianaceae species.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The segregation between the genera Gentiana and Gentianella among the Gentianaceae family is poorly defined. In order to clarify the classification of these genera, some researchers have tried to incorporate data about the chemical constitution, but this has not yet been achieved in a comprehensive way.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a fast and reproducible analytical method for the observation of characteristic fingerprints of secondary metabolites of each genus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven species were investigated, three Gentianella and four Gentiana selected for their close taxonomic links within each genus. Ten xanthones previously isolated from one of these species were used as chemotaxonomic markers. A UPLC/ESI-TOF-MS method was developed to analyse the methanolic extracts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The UPLC/TOF-MS provided clear metabolic fingerprints and elemental composition of the compounds. The profiles of the three Gentianella species were strikingly similar. On the contrary, metabolic profiles of Gentiana species were very different from the Gentianella chromatograms and also from each other. Several compounds were unique to each genus and therefore could be used as biomarkers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UPLC/TOF-MS can be applied as a chemotaxonomic tool for the rapid screening of Gentianaceae species and for the distinction between closely related taxa from the Gentianaceae family.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva/University of Lausanne, Geneva 4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urbain
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marston
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marsden-Edwards
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hostettmann
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D029965:Gentianaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts