Comparison of GC-MS and LC-MS methods for the analysis of antioxidant phenolic acids in herbs

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2007 Jun;388(4):881-7. doi: 10.1007/s00216-007-1298-8. Epub 2007 Apr 28.

Abstract

Two methods were developed for the quantitative analysis of phenolic acids in herb extracts. The methods were based on liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOFMS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The methods were compared in terms of their linearity, repeatability, selectivity, sensitivity and the speed of the analysis. The sensitivity was good for both methods, with limits of detection of <80 ng/ml for most of the compounds. The relative standard deviations (RSD) of the peak areas were on average 7.2% for the LC-TOFMS method and 1.4% for the GC-MS method. Both methods were found to be suitable for the determination of the target analytes, although GC-MS was better suited to the quantitative determination of compounds present at low concentrations.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis*
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Hydroxybenzoates / analysis*
  • Hydroxybenzoates / chemistry
  • Lamiaceae / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / analysis*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Hydroxybenzoates
  • Plant Extracts
  • phenolic acid