Determination of Ephedra Alkaloids & Synephrine in Dietary Supplements via Strong Cation‐Exchange SPE and LC‐MS/MS Detection

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Ephedra alkaloids are phenethylamines that occur naturally in plants, including the herb Ma Huang used in traditional Chinese medicine. Ephedra alkaloids are potent CNS stimulants and also have a sympathomimetic effect on the peripheral nervous
system. However, severe contraindications have been reported for individuals with hypertension or other cardiovascular diseases, particularly when used in combination with caffeine.

The aim of this study was to develop a multi‐analyte procedure for the extraction, cleanup, and quantification of the ephedra alkaloids in functional foods and natural products. High capacity strong cation‐exchange SPE cartridges were used for the isolation of the phenethylamines from dietary supplements. HPLC separation, including separation of the stereoisomers, was carried out using a UCT Selectra^® PFPP column prior to detection by LC‐MS/MS.

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