An Integrated LC-ESI-MSn and High Resolution LC-ESI-QTOF Approach for the Identification of Phloroglucinols from Nepalese Hypericum japonicum

Phloroglucinols are characteristic constituents of Hypericumjaponicum that are claimed to exert several bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant and anti-viral ones. Phloroglucinols are unstable compounds and their synthesis is challenging; thus, isolation from natural sources is still one of the main strategies for obtaining these constituents in purified form. Assessing the presence of phloroglucinols in plant materials can be of interest for compound isolation, and LC-MS approaches afford sensitivity and specificity in this regard. In this work, we combined data from quadrupole-time of flight (QTOF) and ion trap (IT) mass spectrometers in order to assess the presence of the phloroglucinols characteristic of H. japonicum and to elucidate their MS fragmentation pathways. The identified compounds present similar structures bearing the 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene core with different substitutions, which, in constituents at higher MW, is linked to 3′,3′-dimethyl-6′-oxo-phlorisobutyrophenone by a methylene bridge. Differences in MS2 spectra of the considered phloroglucinols are useful for compound identification and differentiation, and to perform dereplication studies. Overall, the proposed approach could be useful for the analysis of phloroglucinols in H. japonicum and other plant species.

Bioaccumulation of Iron in Plants and Their Possibilities as a Tool for Exploration of Hematite Ores

Relation of plant diversity with iron ore deposit area in Dhaubadi, Hupsekot rural municipality-5, Nawalparasi district, has been investigated in this study to explore good indicator and accumulator among plants. To identify this, plant diversity, iron accumulation in soil and plants growing on them at different plots were measured. Spermacoceae alata, Anaphalis busua, Isodon coesta and Salvia sclarea were common herbs in all plots and out of them Spermacoceae alata had the highest importance value index (IVI) value among herbs. Among the shrubs Ageratina adenophora, Maesa chisia, Osbekia stellate and Elsholtzia blanda were common in all the plots and of them Ageratina adenophora showed the highest IVI. Plant like Elsholtzia blanda and Anaphilis busua were identified as good indicator of iron deposits because of high amount of iron in their body, especially roots. Among all the sites, Begonia picta at the core area (Site A) had the highest iron accumulation, and most plants found there like Cyanotis vaga, Hypericum japonicum, Begonia picta, Gonostegia hirta, Trumphetta rhomboidea, Osbekia stellata and Isodon coesta had bronze coloration in leaves. The bronze coloration in leaves among plants has been identified as a good indicator to ascertain iron ore deposits.