[Analysis of surface-active substances in Sapindus mukurossi by high performance liquid chromatography-mass...

A high performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry method has been developed for the analysis of surface-active substances (hederagenin saponins and sesquiterpene oligoglycosides) in the extracts of the pericarp of Sapindus mukurossi. The method consists of the separation of surface-active substances using C18 HPLC column, followed by detection using a diode-array detector at 210 nm and then on-line mass spectrometry. Hederagenin saponins and sesquiterpene oligoglycosides were characterized as [M - H]- or [M + Na]+. Based on the relative molecular mass, established by mass spectrometry and the structure induced by in-source CID technology, three components that had not been reported in Sapindus mukurossi before were identified. Several surface-active substances were obtained by means of semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were further confirmed by NMR spectrometry as mukurozi-saponin Y2, mukurozi-saponin X, mukurozioside I a and mukurozioside II a.