LC-MS Qualitative Analysis and Simultaneous Determination of Six Filipendula Salicylates with Two Standards

Salicylate containing herbs, such as Salix alba (white willow) and Filipendula ulmaria (meadowsweet) are commonly used, because of their antipyretic, analgesic and antirheumatic effect. In this work six salicylates were identified and/or structurally characterized in the methanolic extract of F. ulmaria and were simultaneously determined using salicylic acid and salicin as external standards. Analysis occured by an LC-DAD-MS-MS triple quadrupole system, determination was accomplished in SIM mode. Linearity, inter- and intra-day precision (highest RSD % 9.85), accuracy and recovery were all within acceptable ranges, except recovery for salicin standard (51.76%). LLOQ for salicylic acid was 150 ng mL(-1), for salicin 24 ng mL(-1). Estimative contents of salicylates were calculated with both standard calibrations, results and their error were compared. This is the first study to provide detailed quantitative data on Filipendula salicylates.