An RP-LC-UV-TWIMS-HRMS and Chemometric Approach to Differentiate between Momordicabalsamina Chemotypes from Three Different Geographical Locations in Limpopo Province of South Africa

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 26; no. 7; p. 1896
• Main Authors: Venter, Pieter, Malemela, Kholofelo, Mbazima, Vusi, Mampuru, Leseilane J., Muller, Christo J. F., Riedel, Sylvia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 27.03.2021
• Subjects: chemometric analysis; cytotoxicity assays; high-resolution mass spectrometry; Momordica balsamina; reversed phases liquid chromatography; travelling wave ion mobility spectrometry
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules26071896

Momordica balsamina leaf extracts originating from three different geographical locations were analyzed using reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) coupled to travelling wave ion mobility (TWIMS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) in conjunction with chemometric analysis to differentiate between potential chemotypes. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the three individual chemotypes was evaluated using HT-29 colon cancer cells. A total of 11 molecular species including three flavonol glycosides, five cucurbitane-type triterpenoid aglycones and three glycosidic cucurbitane-type triterpenoids were identified. The cucurbitane-type triterpenoid aglycones were detected in the positive ionization mode following dehydration [M + H − H2O]+ of the parent compound, whereas the cucurbitane-type triterpenoid glycosides were primarily identified following adduct formation with ammonia [M + NH4]+. The principle component analysis (PCA) loadings plot and a variable influence on projection (VIP) analysis revealed that the isomeric pair balsaminol E and/or karavilagen E was the key molecular species contributing to the distinction between geographical samples. Ultimately, based on statistical analysis, it is hypothesized that balsaminol E and/or karavilagen E are likely responsible for the cytotoxic effects in HT-29 cells.