Determination of Senecio alkaloids by thermospray liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A series of Senecio alkaloid and alkaloid N-oxide standards has been analyzed using positive and negative ion thermospray liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with an ammonium acetate-containing mobile phase. On-line separations of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from extracts of Senecio jacobaea (tansy ragwort) and Senecio vulgaris (common groundsel) were done using an ammonium hydroxide-containing mobile phase. All of the alkaloids known to be present in the extracts were detected by ammonium hydroxide thermospray LC/MS, as well as many other components which may be as-yet-unidentified alkaloids.