title: Development and application of a quantitative method based on LC-QqQ MS/MS for determination of steviol glycosides in Stevia leaves.
abstract: Stevia is a currently well-known plant thanks to the presence of steviol glycosides, which are considered as sweeteners obtained from a natural source. In this research, a method based on LC-MS/MS by using a triple quadrupole detector was developed for quantitation of 8 steviol glycosides in extracts from Stevia leaves. The ionization and fragmentation parameters for selected reaction monitoring were optimized. Detection and quantitation limits ranging from 0.1 to 0.5ng/mL and from 0.5 to 1ng/mL, respectively, were achieved: the lowest attained so far. The steviol glycosides were quantified in extracts from leaves of seven varieties of Stevia cultivated in laboratory, greenhouse and field. Plants cultivated in field presented higher concentration of steviol glycosides than those cultivated in greenhouse. Thus, the way of cultivation clearly influences the concentration of these compounds. The inclusion of branches together with leaves as raw material was also evaluated, showing that this inclusion modifies, either positively or negatively, the concentration of steviol glycosides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Annex Marie Curie Building, Campus of Rabanales, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain; Maimónides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofía University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; University of Córdoba, Agroalimentary Excellence Campus, ceiA3, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molina-Calle
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Annex Marie Curie Building, Campus of Rabanales, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain; Maimónides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofía University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; University of Córdoba, Agroalimentary Excellence Campus, ceiA3, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sánchez de Medina
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Annex Marie Curie Building, Campus of Rabanales, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain; Maimónides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofía University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; University of Córdoba, Agroalimentary Excellence Campus, ceiA3, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Delgado de la Torre
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Annex Marie Curie Building, Campus of Rabanales, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain; Maimónides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofía University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; University of Córdoba, Agroalimentary Excellence Campus, ceiA3, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address: q72prcaf@uco.es.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Priego-Capote
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Annex Marie Curie Building, Campus of Rabanales, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain; Maimónides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofía University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; University of Córdoba, Agroalimentary Excellence Campus, ceiA3, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address: qa1lucam@uco.es.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Luque de Castro
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D045786:Diterpenes, Kaurane; D006027:Glycosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018515:Plant Leaves; D036625:Stevia; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D045786:Diterpenes, Kaurane; D006027:Glycosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; C012042:steviol
keywords: Branches; Quantitation; Stevia leaves; Steviol glycosides; Sweetening; Triple quadrupole