Identification of Oleandrin and Oleandrigenin in Oleander Extract by LC/MS and LC/MS/MS
Walden H. Lee and Kin S. Chiu, Pacific Regional Laboratory-Southwest, FDA, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Nerium Oleander is an ornamental shrub found in the sun belt areas of the United States. The plant contains "digitalis-like" cardioglycosides that are highly toxic to animals, including humans. Oleander has been reported to have therapeutic effects in cell proliferation disease and a patent exists for the production of an extract. Due to the unsubstantiated medical claim, the toxicity of the plant and its potential use as an herbal drug, an identification method for two toxic components, oleandrin and oleandrigenin, was developed. For regulatory purposes, the method uses reversed phase liquid chromatography (LC) with electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (MS) and MS/MS detection.