Fragmentation pathways of six aconitine alkaloids using HPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the fragmentation pathways of six aconitine-type alkaloids (aconitine, hypaconitine, mesaconitine, benzoylaconitine, benzoylhypaconitine, and benzoylmesaconitine) in mass spectra (MS). Methods: The samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Results: In positive mode, The typical fragmentation pathways of the six aconitine-type alkaloids were mainly continuous loss of CH3OH and H2O. The characteristic fragmentation pathway of diester-diterpene type aconitine was losing an acetic acid molecule from C-8 position; However this fragmentation could not be observed in MS of mono-ester aconitine alkaloids. Conclusion: The study on fragmentation pathways could be adopted for the structural identification of the six aconitine-type alkaloids.