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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Leaf Spray Mass Spectrometry: A Rapid Ambient Ionization Technique to Directly Assess Metabolites from Plant Tissues
Published on: June 21, 2018
Development and application of a quantitative method based on LC-QqQ MS/MS for determination of steviol glycosides in
M Molina-Calle1, V Sánchez de Medina1, M P Delgado de la Torre1
1Department of Analytical Chemistry, Annex Marie Curie Building, Campus of Rabanales, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain; Maimónides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofía University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; University of Córdoba, Agroalimentary Excellence Campus, ceiA3, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
Abstract:
Stevia is a currently well-known plant thanks to the presence of steviol glycosides, which are considered as sweeteners obtained from a natural source. In this research, a method based on LC-MS/MS by using a triple quadrupole detector was developed for quantitation of 8 steviol glycosides in extracts from Stevia leaves. The ionization and fragmentation parameters for selected reaction monitoring were optimized. Detection and quantitation limits ranging from 0.1 to 0.5ng/mL and from 0.5 to 1ng/mL, respectively, were achieved: the lowest attained so far. The steviol glycosides were quantified in extracts from leaves of seven varieties of Stevia cultivated in laboratory, greenhouse and field. Plants cultivated in field presented higher concentration of steviol glycosides than those cultivated in greenhouse. Thus, the way of cultivation clearly influences the concentration of these compounds. The inclusion of branches together with leaves as raw material was also evaluated, showing that this inclusion modifies, either positively or negatively, the concentration of steviol glycosides.
