Matrix free laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry as an efficient tool for the rapid detection of opiates in crude extracts of Papaver somniferum.

Abstract

Having a long history of traditional medicinal applications, Papaver somniferum is also known as a source of various pharmacologically highly active opiates. Consequently, their detection from plant extracts is an important analytical task and generally addressed by methods of GC and LC-MS. However, opiates do also show structural similarities to matrix molecules used in matrix assisted laser desorption ionization and may therefore ionize upon simple laser irradiation. Following this analytical approach, the present work thoroughly evaluated the direct detection of opiates by matrix free laser desorption ionization (LDI) from crude extracts of P. somniferum. The method facilitated the identification of ten reported opiates by their molecular formulae without any chromatographic pre-purification. Moreover a principal component analysis based on LDI-MS data permitted the correct grouping of all extracts according to their inherent chemistry. Concluding experiments on serial dilutions of thebaine further evaluated potential quantitative applications of the method. Overall results highlight the promising potential of LDI-MS for the swift detection of opiates from complex mixtures.