Analysis Of Alkaloids From The Roots Of Rauwolfia Serpentina Using UHPLC-MS

The roots of Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz has been used in native Indian medicine for treatment of various illnesses and have been mainly used to treat hypertension [1 – 3]. Reserpine is a 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 (1), yohimbine (2), corynanthine (3), ajmalicine (4), serpentine (5), serpentinine (6), and reserpine (7)] from the root samples of R. serpentina. Six plant samples and 21 dietary supplements claiming to contain Rauwolfia roots were analyzed. Botanical Reference Material (#BRM 15898) and authenticated sample (#AU 7535) showed all the seven reference compounds and the content of reserpine (7) was found lowest (0.39 mg/g) among the tested samples and the content of serpentine (5) was found maximum 9.8 mg/g of dry plant material. 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. The compounds from R. serpentina were tentatively identified with respect to retention time, molecular formula and ppm error. With the detailed mass behavior of the reference standards and reported literature the identification of similar compounds in the plant samples were investigated.

Acknowledgements: This research is supported in part by “Science Based Authentication of Dietary Supplements” funded by the Food and Drug Administration grant number 1U01FD004246 – 05, the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Specific Cooperative Agreement No. 58 – 6408 – 1-603 – 07.

References: [1] Wilkins RW, Judson WE (1953) N Engl J Med, 248: 48 – 53. [2] Bhatia BB (1942)J Indian Med Assoc. XI9: 262. [3] Vakil RJ (1949) Br Heart J, 11: 350 – 355.