OBJECTIVETo develop an UPLC-MS method for the simultaneously quantitation of adonifoline and senecinine in Senecio herbs.

METHODUPLC-Micro 2000 was used for quantification in SIR mode under ESI+. Monocrotaline was used as the internal standard. Chromatography was performed on a Shiseido Capcell Pak MG (2.0 mm x 50 mm, 3 microm) column at 30 degrees C using an gradient elution of acetonitrile-0.5% formic acid in water at the flow rate of 0.3 mL x min(-1). The injection volume was 2 microL.

RESULTGood linearity was obtained for quantitation of adonifoline over the range of 1.02-816.00 microg x L(-1) (r = 0.998 0). And recoveries at different concentration levels were between 95.73% and 103.0% with RSDs no more than 2.5%. For quantification of senecionine, the linear range was between 1.08-860.56 microg x L(-1) (r = 0.997 6). And recoveries at different concentration levels were between 95.67% and 101.5% with RSDs no more than 2.3%. Good reproducibility and precision were also achieved.

CONCLUSIONThe new developed UPLC method is sensitive, accurate and reliable enough for the quantitation of adonifoline and senecionine in Senecio herbs thus can be used for the limit detection of pyrrolizidne alkaloids in S. scandens. It can also be used for the identification of fake drugs of S. scandens such as S. vulgaris. The developed method was served for the quality evaluation of Herba Senecionis Scandentis.