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Planta Med 2022; 88(06): 447-454
DOI: 10.1055/a-1521-8386
Natural Product Chemistry and Analytical Studies
Original Papers

Biomarker-Based Determination of Equiseti herba Contamination by Equisetum palustre Using HPLC-MS/MS

Monika Nowak
1   Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
,
Isabel Tipke
2   Institute of Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
,
Luise Bücker
1   Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
,
Kerstin Franke
3   Institute for Electrical Measurement Science and Fundamental Electrical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
,
Marcus Lubienski
1   Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
,
Till Beuerle
1   Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
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Abstract

Equiseti herba has been traditionally indicated in bacterial diseases of the efferent urinary tract or bad healing wounds in many regions worldwide. Most of the plant material used for medical purposes comes from collections of wild growing plants. The European Pharmacopoeia requires that Equiseti herba should consist of a minimum of 95% Equisetum arvense and a maximum of 5% foreign ingredients. This includes Equisetum palustre, which is known for its potentially toxic alkaloid palustrine. However, both Equisetum species are quite common, look morphologically very similar, and share similar habitats, hence, are therefore often confused. Recently, several structurally related Equisetum alkaloids have been identified in E. palustre but not in E. arvense. We have established a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the detection of these E. palustre-specific Equisetum alkaloids in order to quantify the contamination of Equiseti herba (E. arvense) by E. palustre plant material. In a second, independent approach, the results of the HPLC-MS/MS analysis were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, looking for the species-specific characteristics of the stoma apparatus of E. palustre. Thirty-four Equiseti herba products obtained from different pharmacies, drug stores, supermarkets, and web stores were analyzed. The majority of the products (26 out of 34) were Equisetum alkaloid positive, with contents ranging from 0.29 – 21.7 mg of Equisetum alkaloids/kg (d. w.). In addition, the transfer of Equisetum alkaloids into tea infusions was investigated, demonstrating a 42 to 60% transfer rate for cold and hot water extraction of Equisetum alkaloid-contaminated Equiseti herba, respectively.

Key words

Equisetaceae - Equisetum alkaloids - Equisetum arvense - Equisetum palustre - food supplements - HPLC-ESI-MS/MS - herbal tea

Supporting Information

    A list of all analyzed samples with regard to product type, composition, etc., representative HPLC-ESI-MS/MS chromatograms, and detailed parameters and ion transitions are provided as Supporting Information.

  • Supporting Information


Publication History

Received: 02 November 2020

Accepted after revision: 31 May 2021

Article published online:
22 July 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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