UHPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS analysis of cyclopeptide alkaloids in the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba var. Spinosa

Abstract

An UHPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS analytical method was developed for cyclopeptide alkaloids in the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (Semen Ziziphi Spinosae), which is a commonly used herb in Chinese and Korean traditional medicines. Considering the basicity of cyclopeptide alkaloids, a specific separation method was developed for an UHPLC system. The compounds were detected by DAD and ESI-qTOF-MS, and their fragmentation patterns were also acquired by MSE technologies. Peak-picking of major compounds was performed with nine previously isolated compounds and two reference standard compounds. Tandem MS fragmentation behaviors of type-Ia and -Ib cyclopeptide alkaloids were investigated with the acquired data to develop a strategy for dereplication of other cyclopeptide alkaloid compounds in Z. jujuba var. spinosa. Two more cyclopeptide alkaloids were tentatively identified with UHPLC–ESI-qTOF-MS using this method.