An integrated strategy for establishment of curcuminoid profile in turmeric using two LC-MS/MS platforms

Turmeric and curcuminoids are used as natural food coloring and functional food additives in various parts of the world. In this study, ninety-six curcuminoids were fully characterized using a targeted curcuminoid profile, which established by integrated use of two complementary LC-MS/MS platforms (liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography-quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-QTRAP-MS/MS)). The curcuminoid profile was represented in the form of a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode based on LC-QTRAP-MS/MS analysis. It facilitated the qualitative and relative quantitative analysis of curcuminoids in a single injection. Meanwhile, the profile was successfully applied to the quality evaluation of raw materials of turmeric from different regions in China and Myanmar. The structural identification procedures of curcuminoids and the integrated strategy provide a suitable method to analyze targeted plant metabolites which occur in a high number but sharing either structural similarities or similar functional groups.