title: Isolation, characterization, and quantification of steroidal saponins in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.).
abstract: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been identified for development into an efficient and environmentally friendly biomass energy crop. A recent 5 year study demonstrated that switchgrass grown for biofuel production produced 540% more energy than what is needed to grow, harvest, and process it into cellulosic ethanol. If switchgrass is grown on a scale useful for a bioenergy source, some of the material could be used by livestock as hay or pasture. Switchgrass has been reported to cause hepatogenous photosensitization in lambs (Ovis aries) and horses (Equus caballus). In this study, a simple extraction and rapid reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry method was developed for quantifying the major saponins in switchgrass samples. Differences in the relative concentrations of different saponins were observed between switchgrass cultivars and plant parts.
authors.affiliation: US Department of Agriculture, Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, Logan, Utah 84341, USA. stephen.lee@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Zhirui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heiss
authors.forename: Dale R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Parastoo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Azadi
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008897:Panicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012503:Saponins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013045:Species Specificity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D012503:Saponins