Simultaneous quantitative assessment of nine glycosides in tobacco by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and efficient method combining ultrasound-assisted extraction, the conditions of which were optimized by response surface methodology, with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry was established and validated for the absolute quantification of nine non-volatile neutral glycosides originating from tobacco (Nicotiana tobaccum L.) leaves, comprising three phenolic glycosides, one benzanoid glycoside, and five sesquiterpene glycosides within three isomers, originating from tobacco leaves. Factors of extraction time, sample quantity, extraction solvent, liquid chromatographic conditions, and electrospray ionization parameters were carefully investigated to ensure the selectivity and sensitivity of the method. All calibration curves showed excellent coefficients of determination ranging from 0.9940 to 0.9996, within the range of tested concentrations. The limits of detection and quantification were 2.33-25.9 and 7.06-78.5 ng/mL, respectively. Satisfactory values of accuracy were between 80.1 to 107.9% among different sample matrixes. The relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day analysis were less than 13.7 and 13.0% respectively. The developed method was successfully applied in a pilot study to determine the amounts of the nine endogenous glycosides in real flue-cured tobacco samples obtained from different habitats in China.