ABSTRACT
In this manuscript, a rapid and simple analysis method for aconitine alkaloids was established. The method was based on the use of direct ionization and wooden tip spray ionization technology to detect the aconite. The aconite tuber slices were wrapped with wet filter paper overnight, cut into triangles, and extracted with a few solvents for direct ionization and wooden tip spray mass spectrometry. The results showed that alkaloids in aconite tuber can be rapid detected by two mass spectrometric methods without tedious sample pretreatment. Both methods are superior to that of traditional capillary electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The direct ionization MS is better than the wooden tip spray MS for analysis of aconite except under the condition of methylene chloride as extract or spray solvent. Different types of alkaloids in aconite tuber can be selectively detected when different solvents are used. The experiments provide a rapid and no pretreatment MS spectrometric method for analysis of alkaloids in aconite. These sample methods are important for research on aspects of plant varieties, storage, prescription compatibility, and quality control of aconite.