Analysis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids from Crinum by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

were supported by quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-Tof)-MS/MS analysis. The chemical complexity of the mixture was resolved by profiling. The compositions of the main crinane- and tazettine-type alkaloids in the above-mentioned species and organs were also compared. Overall, 28 AmAs comprising 14 crinane-type and 14 tazettine-type alkaloids were identified and studied by MS. Among them, 14 AmAs were tentatively characterized from the two species for the first time. This method allowed a rapid analysis of alkaloid distribution and composition of Crinum species, and may also be used for quality control and screening of extracts designated for pharmaceutical