Determination and Characterization of Polyphenolic Constituents from Flowers of Chamomile Samples using UHPLC-QTOF-MS

Chamomile has been used for centuries as a medicinal plant mostly for its antiinflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antispasmodic and sedative properties [1]. Chamomile is listed in major pharmacopeias such as United States Pharmacopeia and British Pharmacopeia. As a member of Asteraceae family, it is widely represented by two known varieties, viz. German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) [1]. German chamomile in particular is the most common variety used for medicinal purposes.

A new rapid UHPLC-UV-MS method has been developed that permits the analysis of nine polyphenols (cis-GMCA [1], chlorogenic acid [2], trans-GMCA [3], quercetagetin [4], apigetrin [5], chamaemeloside [6], apigenin-7-(6''-acetyl-Glc) [7], apigenin [8], tonghaosu [9]) from flower heads of chamomile samples. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a reversed phase C18 column with a mobile phase composed of water and acetonitrile, both containing 0.05% formic acid. German chamomile showed the presence of compounds 1 – 5, 7 – 9; Roman chamomile showed for the presence of compounds 2, 4 – 6, 8 – 9. Chinese chamomile showed the presence of compounds 2, 5, 7 – 8. LC-mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) interface method is described for the identification of nine compounds in plant samples. This method involved the use of the [M+Na]⁺ and [M+H]⁺ ions in the positive ion mode with extractive ion chromatogram (EIC).

Figure 1: LC-UV method was developed for the identification of phenolic compounds from chamomile samples

Acknowledgements: This research is supported in part by “Science Based Authentication of Dietary Supplements” funded by the Food and Drug Administration grant number 5U01FD004246, the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Specific Cooperative Agreement No. 58 – 6408 – 02 – 1-612, and the authors would like to thank Annette Ford for the extractions of plant samples. References: [1] Srivastava, et al. (2010) Recent Progress in Med Plants, 27: 33 – 53.