Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based quantification of steroidal glycoalkaloids from Solanum xanthocarpum and effect of different extraction methods on their content

A new liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS)-based method coupled with pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) as an efficient sample preparation technique has been developed for the quantification and fingerprint analysis of Solanum xanthocarpum. Optimum separations of the samples were achieved on a Waters MSC-18 XTerra column, using 0.5% (v/v) formic acid in water (A) and acetonitrile (ACN):2-propanol:formic acid (94.5:5:0.5, v/v/v) (B) as mobile phase. The separation was carried out using linear gradient elution with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The gradient was: 0 min, 20% B; 14 min, 30% B; 20 min, 30% B; 27 min, 60% B and the column was re-equilibrated to the initial condition (20% B) for 10 min prior to next injection. The steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) which are the major active constituents were isolated as pure compounds from the crude methanolic extract of S. xanthocarpum by preparative LC–MS and after characterization were used as external standards for the development and validation of the method. Extracts prepared by conventional Soxhlet extraction, PLE and ultrasonication were used for analysis. The method was validated for repeatability, precision (intra- and inter-day variation), accuracy (recovery) and sensitivity (limit of detection and limit of quantitation). The purpose of the work was to develop a validated method, which can be used for the quantification of SGAs in commercialized S. xanthocarpum products and the fingerprint analysis for their routine quality control.