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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » Natural Products Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #318901
Title: Quantification and characterization of alkaloids from roots of Rauwolfia serpentina using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-MS)

Author
item SAGI, SATYANARAYANARA - University Of Mississippi
item AVULA, BHARATHI - University Of Mississippi
item WANG, YAN-HONG - University Of Mississippi
item KHAN, IKHLAS - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: Analytica Chimica Acta
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/29/2015
Publication Date: 10/17/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62596
Citation: Sagi, S.J., Avula, B., Wang, Y., Khan, I.A. 2015. Quantification and characterization of alkaloids from roots of Rauwolfia serpentina using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-MS). Analytica Chimica Acta. 408:177-190. DOI 10.1007/s00216-015-9093-4

Interpretive Summary: The roots of Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz have been used for treatment of various illnesses, mainly used to treat hypertension (High Blood Pressure). The main constituent responsible for this activity is reserpine, a potent substance which has both central nervous system depressant and hypotensive actions. Reserpine is most common alkaloid in many species of Rauwolfia and found to cause toxicity even at doses as small as 0.25 mg/day. In the market none of the dietary supplements claim the content of reserpine. To find the content of reserpine in plant material and dietary supplements, there is a need to develop a suitable method for the analysis of reserpine, in addition other six alkaloids (ajmaline, yohimbine, corynanthine, ajmalicine, serpentine, serpentinine) known to present in Rauwolfia species were also included the present study. This method, ultra high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-QToF-MS), can be used as a quality control tool for testing the Rauwolfia raw materials and commercial products. Six Rauwolfia root samples, 14 dietary supplements and 7 pre-work products claiming to contain Rauwolfia roots were analyzed. The results indicated that commercial products are of variable quality. UHPLC-QToF-mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization interface method is used not only to measure seven alkaloids, but also for the confirmation and characterization of other alkaloids from plant samples.

Technical Abstract: The roots of Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz has been used in native Indian medicine for treatment of various illnesses and has been mainly used to treat hypertension. Reserpine is potent substance which shared both central nervous system depressant and hypotensive actions. An UHPLC-UV method has been developed for the analysis of seven alkaloids (ajmaline, yohimbine, corynanthine, ajmalicine, serpentine, serpentinine, and reserpine) from the root samples of R. serpentina. Six plant samples and 21 dietary supplements claiming to contain Rauwolfia roots were analyzed. The results indicated that commercial products are of variable quality. UHPLC-QToF-mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization interface method is described for the confirmation and characterization of alkaloids from plant samples.