LAUSR

A new specific method using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) for the detection of stigmasterol hydroperoxides was developed. Hydroperoxides of stigmasterol were obtained by photo-oxidation (90 min) in the presence of methylene blue as a sensitizer. The separation was performed using normal-phase chromatographic conditions. The MS detection was carried out with an ion-trap mass spectrometer using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and positive ion mode. Stigmasterol hydroperoxides were seen to produce no protonated molecular ions [M + H] + but instead fragments representing loss of one or two water molecules [M - H 2 O + H] + , [M - 2H 2 O + H] + , loss of hydrogen peroxide [M - H 2 O 2 + H] + or loss of hydrogen peroxide and water [M - H 2 O 2 - H 2 O + H] + . The results showed that positional isomers of hydroperoxides had different fragmentation patterns and relative ion abundances. On the other hand anomeric isomers had more similar fragmentation. As a conclusion the method developed showed to be a useful tool for investigation the oxidation mechanism of sterols.