Simultaneous analysis of N-nornuciferine, O-nornuciferine, nuciferine, and roemerine in leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn by high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection-electrospray mass spectrometry

A novel method has been developed for analysis of N-nornuciferine, O-nornuciferine, nuciferine, and roemerine in leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-photodiode array detection (DAD)-electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The method was carried out by using a Shimadzu VP-ODS column with a gradient solvent system of 0.1% triethylamine aqueous solution-acetonitrile. N-Nornuciferine, O-nornuciferine, nuciferine, and roemerine were identified with authentic standard compounds and with MS-spectra. The contents of these compounds were measured by employing DAD. Linearity of around three orders in the magnitude of concentration was generally obtained and limits of detection for these compounds were in the range of 30-90 pg.