Alkaloids from Delphinium spp. Larkspurs

Retention time (min) Molecular ion adduct QMH] (m/z) Identity Concentration (ppb) 

The total pyrroUzidine alkaloid content was 2850 143 xg/kg honey (ppb) expressed as equivalents oflasiocarpine-N-oxide forthe N-oxides present and equivalents of lasiocarpine for the tertiary base pyrrolizidine alkaloids present. The assignment of the minor alkaloids leptanthine-N-oxide and echimiplatine-N-oxide may be reversed 

Whilst gas chromatography has been used for the analysis of many of the lycoctonine-based alkaloids [52], the larger, less volatile, and more thermally labile MSAL compounds require analytical procedures such as TLC and HPLC for separation and detection. For example, both normal phase liquid chromatography [53] and reversed phase liquid chromatography [54] with UV detection have been used for separation, detection, and quantitation of alkaloids from Delphinium species associated with livestock poisonings in the western US and Canada. The introduction of API techniques has allowed the analysis of all types of diterpene alkaloids by direct MS methods and with MS methods coupled to liquid chromatography. 

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Whilst a review of the literature reveals an abundance of reports dealing with the LC-MS of alkaloids, this chapter will cover only some of those applications where they lend support to the aspects being described. In addition the chapter includes a more detailed description of research from the authors laboratories on the extraction and LC-MS analysis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and the alkaloids present in Delphinium spp. (larkspurs). 

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