Matrix Free Material Enhanced Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Amino Acids in Althaea Officinalis, Matricaria Chamomilla, and Taraxacum Officinale

Abstract

The standardization of natural product drugs needs reliable methods for the analysis of raw materials and final products. In this study, qualitative analysis of amino acids in herbal extracts was performed using mass spectrometric method, that is, matrix- free material enhanced laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (mf-MELDI-MS). Samples employed in the study were standards and water extracts from Althaea officinalis, Taraxacum officinale, and Matricaria chamomilla.

These analyses confirmed the presence of amino acids and clearly proved the adequate performance of mf-MELDI-MS for the qualitative analysis of complex mixtures, as targets do not need modification and analysis requires only a few minutes. Determination of amino acids in these plants were performed and reported for the first time using the modified silica gel (4,4′-azodianiline modified silica gel) and mf-MELDI-MS technique.

Keywords:

• Amino acids
• Mf-MELDI-MS
• Plant extracts

Acknowledgments

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan is acknowledged for providing scholarship during the course of this work.