Metabolic profiling of roots of liquorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra) from different geographical areas by ESI/MS/MS and determination of major metabolites by LC-ESI/MS and LC-ESI/MS/MS

• Published in: Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 535 - 544
• Main Authors: Montoro, Paola, Maldini, Mariateresa, Russo, Mariateresa, Postorino, Santo, Piacente, Sonia, Pizza, Cosimo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 20.02.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analysis; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Antioxidants - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Calibration; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Liquid; Flavonoids - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General pharmacology; Glycyrrhiza - chemistry; Glycyrrhiza - metabolism; Glycyrrhiza glabra; Glycyrrhizic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Glycyrrhizic Acid - analysis; Glycyrrhizic Acid - isolation & purification; glycyrrhizin; Humans; Ions; Italy; LC-ESI/MS; licorice; Liquid chromatography; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mass Spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Medical sciences; Metabolites; metabolomics; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phenolic compounds; Phenols - analysis; Phenols - chemistry; Plant Extracts - analysis; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Roots - chemistry; Plant Roots - metabolism; Quantitative analyses; quantitative analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Roots; Saponins; Saponins - analysis; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; triterpenes; triterpenoids; Italy; Saponins; LC-ESI/MS; Quantitative analyses; Phenolic compounds; Glycyrrhiza glabra; Metabolomics; Root; Pharmacognosy; Metabolite; HPLC chromatography; Licorice; Determination; Electrospray; Medicinal plant; Saponin; Mass spectrometry MS/MS; Plant origin; Phenols; Flavoring crop; Glycoside; Quantitative analysis; Below ground plant part
• ISSN: 0731-7085; 1873-264X; 1873-264X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2010.10.004

Liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS) has been applied to the full characterization of saponins and phenolics in hydroalcoholic extracts of roots of liquorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra). Relative quantitative analyses of the samples with respect to the phenolic constituents and to a group of saponins related to glycyrrhizic acid were performed using LC-ESI/MS. For the saponin constituents, full scan LC–MS/MS fragmentation of the protonated (positive ion mode) or deprotonated (negative ion mode) molecular species generated diagnostic fragment ions that provided information concerning the triterpene skeleton and the number and nature of the substituents. On the basis of the specific fragmentation of glycyrrhizic acid, an LC–MS/MS method was developed in order to quantify the analyte in the liquorice root samples. Chinese G. glabra roots contained the highest levels of glycyrrhizic acid, followed by those from Italy (Calabria).