Identification of Sassafras albidum alkaloids by high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and mapping by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging

Abstract

Sassafras albidum is an important tree species that occurs across North America. The presence of benzylisoquinoline and aporphine alkaloids has been previously described; however, the spatial distribution of these compounds within S. albidum and other plants of Lauraceae family is still unclear. Mass spectrometry imaging has become an important tool in analysis of plants metabolites, uncovering important contributions about the functional role, biosynthetic pathway, and accumulation of these compounds in the plant. This work aimed to identify further alkaloids present in S. albidum roots, twigs, and leaves by high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography coupled to desorption electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry (HPTLC DESI‐MSn) and to map the spatial distribution of these compounds by DESI‐MS imaging. A total of 12 alkaloids were indentified in the roots and twigs, and six of them were detected for the first time in S. albidum. A high number of alkaloids was found in S. albidum roots; however, alkaloids were not detected in the leaves. Cross sections of roots and twigs were blotted onto TLC plates assisted by heating and solvent extraction, and these imprints were analyzed by DESI‐MS imaging. The profile of alkaloid spatial distribution in DESI‐MS images showed different accumulation patterns across and within different plant parts. Most alkaloids displayed higher intensities in the outer‐most layer of the roots and twigs. The detailed spatial localization pattern of these alkaloids analyzed by DESI‐MS imaging in different plant parts could contribute to a better understanding of the profile of distribution, accumulation, and biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline and aporphine alkaloids.

An Analysis of the Plant- and Animal-Based Hydrocolloids as Byproducts of the Food Industry

“…In the present day, safrole-free extracts are allowed to be used as flavorings. Many other alkaloids were found in the roots, but none in the leaves [100].…”

A century of studying plant secondary metabolism—From “what?” to “where, how, and why?”

“…In order to explore the “black box” of secondary metabolism, chemical imaging technologies have provided avenues for direct measurements of metabolites in situ and in vivo. For example, desorption electrospray ionization and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS imaging has been applied to map the spatial profiles of primary metabolites ( Zhang et al 2023 ), glucosinolates ( Sarsby et al 2012 ), lipids ( Sarabia et al 2018 ), alkaloids ( Conceição et al 2021 ), and phytohormones ( Shiono et al 2017 ; Fig. 4D ) across plant tissue sections of interest.…”

Antimicrobial Potential of Different Isolates of Chaetomium globosum Combined with Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry Chemical Profiling

“…Aporphine isoboldine alkaloid was found to have an antifungal effect against Tricophyton rubrum [74]. Coclaurine is an isoquinoline alkaloid that has antiviral properties [75] and cytotoxic effects against human colon cancer (HCT116), human breast cancer (MCF7), and human liver cancer (HEPG-2) cells, with corresponding IC 50 values of 8.233, 15.345, and 1.674, respectively [76]. Scoulerine is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid showing inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (anti-AChE), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-α), and the bacterial strain Helicobacter pylori [77].…”