Identification of Meliatoxins in Melia azedarach Extracts Using Mass Spectrometry for Quality Control.
Indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides can be hazardous to both humans and the environment, but the use of natural products as a source of bio-based products, such asMelia azedarachextracts, is an interesting approach to overcome these hazards. Unfortunately, the limonoids found inM. azedarachwith desired insecticidal properties (e.g. azadirachtin) may also be present with limonoids toxic to mammals. The goal of this report was to develop a fast and reliable MS-based experiment to characterize meliatoxins in crude extracts ofM. azedarach,in order to provide unequivocal assessment of the safety for extracts for application in the field. MS and MS/MS experiments using MALDI ionization were evaluated as tools for the assignment of characteristic ions produced by each meliatoxin in crude extracts.The use of different experiments in combination, such as the analysis of fragmentm/z557 and [M + Na]+(adducts ionsm/z681 andm/z 667), MALDI-MS can be used for detection of meliatoxins A1/B1or A2/B2in a crude extract and may be used to discriminate meliatoxins A from B, respectively. Subsequent MS/MS experiments can distinguish between the presence of group 1 and/or 2 in each class of meliatoxins classifying the proposed approach as a quick and efficient quality control method of meliatoxins in realM. azedarachsamples.
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Vivian E
VE
Cornelio
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Moacir R
MR
Forim
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Bruno
B
Perlatti
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
João B
JB
Fernandes
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Paulo C
PC
Vieira
Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Michael P
MP
Napolitano
Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Richard A
RA
Yost
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Maria Fátima G F
MF
da Silva
D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D036701:Limonins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D031586:Melia azedarach / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D011786:Quality Control; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods
D036701:Limonins; D010936:Plant Extracts