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HPLC‐MS analysis of toxic norditerpenoid alkaloids: refinement of toxicity assessment of low larkspurs ( Delphinium spp.)
Author(s) -
Gardner Dale R.,
Pfister James A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
phytochemical analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1099-1565
pISSN - 0958-0344
DOI - 10.1002/pca.1104
Subject(s) - delphinium , methyllycaconitine , chemistry , alkaloid , high performance liquid chromatography , toxicity , chromatography , botany , stereochemistry , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry , receptor , nicotinic agonist , nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
Abstract Introduction The low larkspurs ( Delphinium nuttallianum and D. andersonii ) are two toxic plant species that are often fatally ingested by cattle on western USA rangelands. To assess the potential toxicity of the plants, methods are needed to identify and quantify the toxic N ‐methylsuccinimidoanthranoyllycacontine type alkaloids in the plant. Objective To compare normal‐phase and reverse‐phase HPLC‐MS methods of analysis for detection and identification of toxic alkaloids in two species of toxic larkspur plants and to define the toxic alkaloids found in Delphinium nuttallianum and D. andersonii collected from several sites in the western USA. Results The major toxic alkaloids found in the low larkspurs included methyllycaconitine, nudicauline, 14‐deacetylnudicauline and geyerline. Other toxic alkaloids detected at lower concentrations included 16‐deacetylgeyerline, grandiflorine, bearline, 14‐acetylbearline, barbinine, 16‐demethylnudicauline and three additional isomers of bearline. Total toxic alkaloid concentrations ranged from 0.72 mg/g (d.w.) to 7.02 mg/g determined by reverse‐phase HPLC‐MS. Conclusion The low larkspurs contain a number of toxic alkaloids in addition to the alkaloid methyllycaconitine that need to be assessed when considering the toxicity of the plant. Both normal‐phase and reverse‐phase HPLC methods are adequate to detect and quantify the alkaloids. The reverse‐phase separation may be preferred due to readily available columns, reduced solvent use and simplicity of the electrospray ionisation source. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.