Analysis of trans-resveratrol by laser ionization mass spectrometry and HPLC with fluorescence detection

A comparison between two analytical techniques is presented using trans-resveratrol as analyte and vine leaf as sample. The employed methods were: (a) laser desorption followed by resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LD-REMPI-TOFMS), and (b) reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with fluorescence detection. While both techniques show a similar range of linearity and reproducibility, marked differences were found in their sensitivity and required time for a single analysis. For example: (i) the chromatographic method required considerable less time (30 min) than the REMPI method to implement the analysis, (ii) the detection and quantification limits of the REMPI technique were 2.1 and 6.7 μg L−1, respectively, while for the chromatographic method they were ten times minor, i.e. 20 and 67 μg L−1, respectively. A critical assessment including advantages and drawbacks of each technique is presented.