quantumtantra
Established member
A B S T R A C T
Seeds from the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Argyreia nervosa of different origin and labelling and with
allegedly high levels of ergot alkaloids were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography–
high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC–HRMS/MS) technique. Lysergic acid amide (LSA), ergome-
trine, lysergol/elymoclavine/setoclavine, chanoclavine, lysergic acid and their respective stereoisomers
were identified as well as penniclavine and lysergic acid a-hydroxyethylamide. In addition,
methylergometrine, methysergide, and lysergylalanine were detected, some high molecular weight
ergot alkaloid derivatives and hydroxyalanine derived ergopeptide fragments were detected indicating
the presence of ergopeptides in the seeds. The results of the study demonstrate that the content of ergot
alkaloids in Argyreia nervosa seeds depends on the quality of the material. For a consumer the quality of
the seeds is unforeseeable. For the toxicological expert it is essential to investigate not only the identity
of such a confiscated seed material, but also the various ergot alkaloid constituents to assess the
hazardous nature and the toxic potential of the material.
Seeds from the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose Argyreia nervosa of different origin and labelling and with
allegedly high levels of ergot alkaloids were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography–
high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC–HRMS/MS) technique. Lysergic acid amide (LSA), ergome-
trine, lysergol/elymoclavine/setoclavine, chanoclavine, lysergic acid and their respective stereoisomers
were identified as well as penniclavine and lysergic acid a-hydroxyethylamide. In addition,
methylergometrine, methysergide, and lysergylalanine were detected, some high molecular weight
ergot alkaloid derivatives and hydroxyalanine derived ergopeptide fragments were detected indicating
the presence of ergopeptides in the seeds. The results of the study demonstrate that the content of ergot
alkaloids in Argyreia nervosa seeds depends on the quality of the material. For a consumer the quality of
the seeds is unforeseeable. For the toxicological expert it is essential to investigate not only the identity
of such a confiscated seed material, but also the various ergot alkaloid constituents to assess the
hazardous nature and the toxic potential of the material.