Dynamic changes of alkaloids in growth cycle in stems and leaves of Aconitum carmichaelii by HPLC-MS/MS / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the content changes of alkaloids in stems and leaves of Aconiti Radix at different growth period. Methods: The Phenomenex C18 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) was used and 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution-acetonitrile was selected as mobile phase; The mass spectrum was scanned by ESI+ multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The HPLC-MS/MS method was established for the simultaneous determination of aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, indaconitine, benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine, benzoylhypaconitine, aconine, fuziline, neoline, talatisamine, songorine, higenamine, and salsoline in the stems and leaves of Aconite Radix. Combined with principal component analysis (PCA), the transfer rule of various alkaoids was tracked in the growth cycle of Aconiti Radix. Results: Methodological validation results showed that the linear range of the 14 compounds was good (r2 > 0.990 0). The limit of quantification was 2.27-18.27 ng/mL, and the average recovery was 94.73%-104.50%. The results showed that there was considerable amounts of alkaloids in stems and leaves of Aconiti Radix, and the total contents of alkaloids in stems were higher than those in leaves. In May, June, July, and August, the total content of alkaloids in stems was 0.087 1%, 0.182 8%, 0.141 0%, and 0.199 4% respectively, which showed a wave-like upward trend. The total content of alkaloids in leaves was 0.074 7%, 0.075 9%, 0.081 4%, and 0.058 9% respectively, which showed a trend of rising first and then decreasing, and the total content of alkaloids in leaves was highest in July. Conclusion: PCA found that the alkaloids content in stems and leaves showed different variation trend in the different period. The considerable alkaloids in stems reached the peak value at the harvest time. The amount of alkaloids is considerable, which has the potential and development value of becoming new medicinal resources.