Identification and determination of glycosides in tobacco leaves by liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

HPLC-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization MS (HPLC-APCI-MS) was used to screen and identify glycosides in tobacco leaf. MS/MS and MS3 and photodiode array (PDA) detection were also used in the characterization. A total of 12 glycosides were found and four of them were identified based on their abundant [M + H]+ ions, UV spectra, and MS/MS analysis and they are scopolin, rutin, quercetin-3-glycoside, and kaempferol-3-rutinoside. Analytical characteristics of the method were investigated. The contents of these glycosides were obtained and compared based on the relative peak area to the internal standard in seven kinds of tobacco leaf.