Planta Med 2019; 85(18): 1434
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3399755
Main Congress Poster
Poster Session 1
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Development of an HPLC-MS/MS multi-method for the detection of sesquiterpene lactones and polyphenols occurring in Arnica plant materials

F Kolrep
1   German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment,, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, Berlin, Germany
,
R Schmidt
1   German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment,, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, Berlin, Germany
,
E Mähnert
1   German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment,, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, Berlin, Germany
,
M Gehling
1   German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment,, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, Berlin, Germany
,
A Preiss-Weigert
1   German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment,, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, Berlin, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 December 2019 (online)

 

Arnica montana is a flowering plant native to Central, Eastern and Northern Europe, for which Germany bears a special responsibility within the EU program “Natura 2000” [1] and the German program “Bundesprogramm Biologische Vielfalt – Verantwortungsarten” [2], [3]. In recent years, populations of this important medicinal plant in Germany and throughout Europe have collapsed dramatically, especially in lowland locations. Within the Arnica montana population there are different genetic varieties which have to be considered for the conservation of biodiversity and for the maintenance of the reproductive capacity of the plant. An open question is whether these genetic varieties also differ in their secondary metabolite profiles.

The aim of this study is to develop an analytical method for the detection (contents and profiles) of sesquiterpene lactones in particular as well as some representative flavonoids and caffeic acids in flowers and leaves of Arnica montana.

For this purpose, first an in-house database of sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids and caffeic acids present in Arnica montana was established on the basis of literature data. Subsequently, fragmentation patterns of precursor ions of ingredients were measured in product ion scan mode from extracts of Arnica montana plant material (flowers and leaves) in positive and negative ionization mode. From the spectra, characteristic fragment ions were selected for the development of an HPLC-MS/MS multi-method. HPLC gradient conditions and MRM-MS parameters were optimized. The methodology for the quality controlled quantification of major constituents and identification of suitable reference compounds as biomarkers for high throughput analysis of Arnica montana varieties is in progress.