Planta Med 2016; 82 - PA27
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1578642

Structural Characterization Of Monacolin Compounds Using Tandem Mass Quadrupole Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer As A Tool

YH Wang 1, B Avula 1, Z Zhang 1, M Wang 1, S Sagi 1, Z Ali 1, IA Khan 1, 2
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
  • 2Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA

Red Yeast Rice (RYR) is fermented rice with various strains of the yeast Monascus species from the Aspergillaceae family, and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries in invigorating the body, aiding in digestion, and revitalizing the blood [1]. In recent years, RYR has been used in dietary supplements for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Monacolin K and a group of monacolins were found to be effective as hypocholesterolemic agent. These monacolins were secondary metabolites from the fermentation and are biogenetically related to each other [2].

With the purpose of quality assurance and adulterant assessment for RYR dietary supplements, the fragmentation pathways of monacolin compounds were characterized according to tandem mass spectrum of quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. On the basis of substitution at C-8 and whether in acid form at C-1' or forming lactone by cyclization between C-1' and C-5', nine monacolins were classified into three sub-groups. The key fragments of each group were investigated. The developed method was applied to the identification of monacolin compounds from red yeast rice by UHPLC-QToF MS.

Acknowledgements: This research is supported in part by “Science Based Authentication of Dietary Supplements” funded by the Food and Drug Administration grant number 1U01FD00424605 and the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Specific Cooperative Agreement No. 58-6408-1-603-07.

References: [1] Avula B., Wang Y-H., et al., (2014)J. Pharma. Biomed. Anal. 100: 243 – 253. [2] Li Y-G., Zhang F., et al., (2004)J. Pharma. Biomed. Anal. 35: 1101 – 1112.