[Rapid simultaneous determination of main nucleosides in Cordyceps sinensis with LC-ESI-MS].

Objective: To establish an LC-MS method for rapid simultaneous determination of adenine,adenosine and cordycepin in Cordyceps sinensis.

Method: An electrospray ionization (ESI) interface and selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode were used. The analytical column was a Shimadzu VP-ODS column (2.0 mm x 150 mm) and the mobile phase was water-methanol-formic acid (92:7:1). Methanol was used as extraction solvent and 2-chloroadenosine was used as internal standard for this assay.

Result: The regression equations and coefficient were Y = 0.07264X + 0.00622 and r = 0.9987 for adenine, Y = 0.1597X + 0.0146 and r = 0.9991 for adenosine, Y = 0.1942X + 0.0186 and r = 0.9994 for cordycepin. The linear range was 0.8-130.0 mg x L(-1), 0.5 - 124.5 mg x L(-1) and 0.5-128.5 mg x L(-1) for adenine, adenosine and cordycepin, respectively. The average recovery was 98.76%, 99.37% and 99.26% for adenine, adenosine and cordycepin, respectively.

Conclusion: This established method was highly sensitive, fast and selective, which can be used for rapid simultaneous determination of adenine, adenosine and cordycepin in C. sinensis. This method also can be applied for the quality control of C. sinensis.