title: A combination of ultrasonic-assisted extraction with RRLC-QQQ method for the determination of artemisinin in the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Artemisinin, the primary active ingredient of the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L., is known to have considerable anti-malaria properties. However, rapid, sensitive and selective method for the determination of artemisinin in it is not currently available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop and validate an efficient method for extraction and analysis of artemisinin from the plant samples of Artemisia annua L. by rapid resolution liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (RRLC-QQQ).
  
  
  METHODS
  Following ultrasound-assisted extraction (USE), RRLC-QQQ was utilised to separate and determine artemisinin from the plant sample of Artemisia annua L. The LC separation, QQQ-MS detection and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode were optimised, and the method validation concluding selectivity, calibration, accuracy and precision, and recovery were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LC separation was performed with an isocratic elution of 20% of methanol-water (10 mmol/L ammonium acetate, pH 4.0) on a C(18) column. The triple quadrupole MS detection was carried out under MRM mode of precursor ion [M + H]+ → fragment ions m/z 265.1 and m/z 247.2. The limits of detection and quantitation of artemisinin were 0.20 and 0.75 ng/mL, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions did not exceed 3.71%, and the deviation of the intra- and inter-day mean values did not exceed ±7.50. The average recoveries for artemisinin ranged from 92.45 to 103.8% with an RSD from 2.47 to 2.79%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The developed RRLC-QQQ assay is an efficient method for separation and determination of artemisinin from the plant samples of Artemisia annua L.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Material Medical, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, 16 Dongzhimennei Street, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xian-En
authors.initials: XE
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hongjing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Dahui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Luqi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D031172:Artemisia annua / Q000737:chemistry*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002138:Calibration; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D037621:Artemisinins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts