GC–MS and LC–MS/MS workflows for the identification and quantitation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in plant extracts, a case study: Echium plantagineum

Abstract Workflows based on gas and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for the identification of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids present in plants were developed and applied to Echium plantagineum L., Boraginaceae, extracts. GC–MS based determinations need reduction and derivatization steps prior to MS analysis, which is performed using a Full Scan and Single Ion Monitoring sequence for screening, identification and quantification purposes. The LC–(ESI)–MS/MS determination was performed directly from the extract without derivatization. Acetyl lycopsamine, echimidine, echimi...