RPLC-MS/MS monitoring of Saponin profiles in soapwort extracts using characteristic fragmentation patterns and ionization behavior

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis L.) is one of the most widespread plants capable of producing and accumulating significant amounts of triterpene saponins. Soapwort's roots are used to prepare several food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Despite it, only a minor part of its saponins has been characterized so far. We describe a novel strategy for the structural study of soapwort saponins using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The strategy involving three steps: purification of the soapwort extracts, reversed phase chromatography separation, and precursor ion scanning, allowed for the detection of over 200 species of glycosides derived from 12 different triterpenoid aglycones, of which the structure was partially characterized for 75 saponins. A multiple-reaction monitoring method was also developed to monitor saponin profiles in soapwort extracts obtained under different conditions.