Characterization of Sanguinaria canadensis L. fluid extract by FAB mass spectrometry.

Positive-ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry was used for the rapid characterization of commercial Sanguinaria canadensis L. fluid extracts. Quaternary and non-quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids afford persistent peaks due to [M]+ and [M+H]+ ionic species, respectively, and their relative abundances are in good agreement with previously reported per cent analytical data. The procedure allowed sanguinarine, chelerythrine, chelirubine, sanguilutine, protopine, allocryptopine and the isomers sanguirubine and/or chelilutine to be effectively detected by means of persistent and intense peaks in all the samples examined.