High-performance liquid chromatography with stop-flow ultraviolet spectral characterization of lolitrem neurotoxins from perennial ryegrass.

The lolitrem neurotoxins, potent tremorgenic toxins isolated from perennial ryegrass, were examined using high-performance liquid chromatography with stop-flow UV spectral characterization. Comparison with some known indoles and indolic tremorgenic mycotoxins, together with chemically reduced lolitrem B, the major lolitrem neurotoxin, established the central indole chromophore of the lolitrems. The stop-flow UV spectral characterization was useful for identification of lolitrem B in ryegrass plant and seed extracts.