Analysis of iridoid glucosides from Paederia scandens using HPLC–ESI-MS/MS

Iridoid glycosides are an important class of natural products and have many biological activities. Iridoid glucosides in an extract of the plant species Paederia scandens were investigated using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography and electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight-type tandem mass spectrometry. The elemental composition of most of the compounds was determined by accurate mass and relative isotopic abundance (RIA) measurements. In positive ion mode, the fragmentation of [M+NH4]+ precursor ions was carried out using low energy collision-induced electrospray ionization tandem spectrometry. The neutral losses of NH3, H2O, Glc, and the side chain of the iridoid moiety were the main fragmentation patterns observed. For simple iridoid glycosides, the main differences were related to the side chains. Fragmentation of the [M−H]−precursor ions was achieved for the compounds possibly having phenolic acid group. The connection order of the iridoid, sugar, and phenolic acid moieties, and the linkage of the 6-OH group of the sugar to the phenolic acid were unambiguously confirmed using a combination of MS/MS spectra in both positive and negative ion modes, and our previous work. For some trace dimeric iridoid glucosides, the connection order between the asperuloside and paederoside moieties was determined by the characteristic product ions; this was supported by D-labeling experiments. A total of 24 iridoid glucosides, including 14 new species, were identified or tentatively characterized based on exact mass, RIA values, tandem mass spectra, and D-labeling experiments.

► A total of 24 iridoid glucosides (14 new ones) were characterized using HPLC–ESI-MS.
► The difference mainly focuses on the side chain of iridoid moiety for simple ones.
► The connection order of iridoid, sugar and phenolic acid moieties can be confirmed.
► The acylation of 6-OH of sugar by phenolic acid can be determinated.
► Connection order between asperuloside and paederoside moieties can be confirmed.