Phytochemical analysis of Pfaffia glomerata inflorescences by LC-ESI-MS/MS

Abstract

Pfaffia glomerata contains high levels of β-ecdysone, which has shown a range of beneficial pharmacological effects. The present study demonstrated that inflorescences of P. glomerata contain other important bioactive compounds in addition to β-ecdysone. The identification of compounds from inflorescences using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was performed for the first time. The eight compounds identified were β-ecdysone, flavonoid glycosides such as quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and kaempferol-3-O-(6-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside, oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins such as ginsenoside Ro and chikusetsusaponin IV, in addition to oleanonic acid and gluconic acid. This study provided information on the phytochemicals contained in P. glomerata inflorescences revealing the potential application of this plant part as raw material for the phytotherapeutic and cosmetic industries.

Figure 1

Chemical structures of the eight compounds proposed in P. glomerata inflorescences by LC-ESI-MS/MS.

Figure 2

LC-ESI-MS total ion chromatogram (TIC) of the extract of Pfaffia glomerata inflorescences showing peaks 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 detected in the positive ion mode.

Figure 3

Direct-infusion ESI-MS/MS spectrum of β-ecdysone standard showing [M+H]⁺, [M+H-H₂0]⁺, [M+H-2H₂0]⁺, and [M+H-3H₂0]⁺ in positive ion mode.

Figure 4

LC-ESI-MS total ion chromatogram (TIC) of the extract of Pfaffia glomerata inflorescences showing peaks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 detected in the negative ion mode.