Qualitative analysis of polysaccharide in the plant concentrate by HPLC-MS/MS with pre-column derivatization using 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole

Objective In order to improve the detection specificity and accuracy of polysaccharide,a high pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for detection of polysaccharides in plants concentrate.Methods Samples were derivatized using 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole,separated by reverse phase C18 column using acetonitrile and ammonium acetate aqueous solution as mobile phase and detected by LC-MS/MS under the wavelength of 254 nm.Results 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole(AEC)was good for the derivatization of polysaccharides,without side products and the polysaccharide molecules with the derived group were separated by mass spectrometry to determine the relative molecular weight and structure.Conclusion the method is simple,sensitive and accurate and has lower risk of pollution and loss.It has significance for structure analysis,structure-activity relationship of the plant polysaccharide.