Development and validation of a UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination and detection of four neuritogenic compounds in different parts of Gentiana rigescens Franch using multiple reaction monitoring and precursor ion scanning

Abstract

A simple, sensitive, selective and reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination and detection of four neuritogenic compounds (gentisides A, B, J and K) isolated from Gentiana rigescens. The analysis was carried out on an ODS column with isocratic elution of methanol : 0.1% formic acid coupled to ESI-triple-quadrupole-MS operating in negative ion mode. The four compounds were detected in a precursor ion scan (m/z 135.00, 153.00, 109.10 and 91.10) and quantified in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) acquisition mode. All the regression equations revealed a good linear relationship (R² = 0.9978–0.9992) within the test ranges. The mean recoveries of the targets measured at three concentrations were in the range of 98.00% to 102.29%. The inter- and intra-day %RSD of retention time and peak area were less than 2%. The method appears to be a useful tool for the simultaneous determination and detection of the four neuritogenic compounds in G. rigescens, and may have potential for the screening of other populations of plants.