LC-ESI-MS analysis of taxoids from the bark of Taxus wallichiana

LC-ESI-MS analysis was carried out for taxoid profiling of partially purified methanol extracts of the stem bark of Taxus wallichiana growing in different regions of the Himalayas (Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, UP hills, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh). Cone voltage fragmentation of the protonated, ammonium or sodium cationized molecular species resulted in diagnostic fragment ions. Thus, information about the number and nature of substituents and the taxane skeleton (whether it is normal or rearranged) was readily available from the LC-ESI-MS spectra. The rearranged 11(15-->1)-abeo-taxanes showed a characteristic elimination of the hydroxyisopropyl along with an acetoxy group. The identification of the taxoids was achieved by comparison of the ESI mass spectra with those of the authentic taxoids available to us or by interpreting the ESI mass spectra. The results were also corroborated by MS/MS analysis of the partially purified extract injected directly into the ESI source. Paclitaxel, its analogues and their xylosides are present in samples from all the regions. An interesting observation is the detection of a large number of basic taxoids having nitrogen-containing side chains.