Using a Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer to Profile Plant-Derived Oligosaccharides and Polysaccharides

Significance of the Topic

Food metabolomics is crucial for assessing and improving food quality, flavor and functional properties. Plant-derived oligosaccharides and polysaccharides play key roles in nutrition, gut health and product development. Simultaneous profiling of these carbohydrates helps optimize processing and formulation in the food and beverage industries.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study demonstrates the use of a single quadrupole LC/MS system (Shimadzu LCMS-2050) for comprehensive analysis of plant-derived oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Building on previous work in alcoholic beverages, the authors targeted isomaltooligosaccharide syrup, fructooligosaccharide syrup and yacon powder extract to evaluate carbohydrate chains up to 40 monosaccharide units.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample Preparation:

• Oligosaccharide syrups diluted 200-fold in ultrapure water.
• Yacon powder extracted with water, vortex mixing, ultrasonic treatment and centrifugation, followed by protein removal via acetonitrile precipitation.

Chromatographic Conditions:

• System: Nexera XR HPLC
• Column: Shodex Asahipak NH2P-40 3E (250 × 3.0 mm, 4.0 µm)
• Mobile phases: 2.5 mmol/L ammonium bicarbonate (A) and 25 mmol/L ammonium bicarbonate/ acetonitrile (10:90, B)
• Gradient: 70% B to 40% B over 25 min, then return to 70% B by 30 min
• Flow rate: 0.3 mL/min; Column temperature: 40 °C; Injection volume: 5 µL

Mass Spectrometry Conditions:

• Instrument: LCMS-2050 single quadrupole MS with DUIS dual ion source (ESI/APCI)
• Mode: Negative ion selected ion monitoring (40 events)
• Mass range: m/z 2–2000; monovalent ions for DP2–10; di- and trivalent ions for DP11–40
• Gas flows: Nebulizing 3.0 L/min; Drying 5.0 L/min; Heating 7.0 L/min
• Temperatures: Desolvation 400 °C; DL 150 °C

Main Results and Discussion

Mass chromatograms revealed:

• Isomaltooligosaccharide syrup contains oligosaccharides up to degree of polymerization 24.
• Fructooligosaccharide syrup contains oligosaccharides up to DP7.
• Yacon extract shows saccharides up to DP17.

Relative distribution analysis showed that yacon extract has a higher proportion of larger oligosaccharides (DP6 and above) compared to commercial syrups. This variation influences sweetness and prebiotic activity.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The compact LCMS-2050 system enables rapid, simultaneous detection of a broad range of carbohydrate polymers in a single run. This capability supports quality control, product development and nutritional evaluation in food science, with direct applications in functional food formulation and metabolomics research.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

• Integration of high-throughput LC/MS data with bioinformatics for comprehensive metabolomic profiling.
• Expansion to complex food matrices and implementation in real-time quality monitoring.
• Development of automated workflows for large-scale carbohydrate analysis and product screening.

Conclusion

Shimadzu’s LCMS-2050 single quadrupole system demonstrates robust performance for profiling plant-derived oligosaccharides and polysaccharides up to DP40. Its versatility, sensitivity and ease of use support advanced food metabolomics and quality assessment, paving the way for broader adoption in research and industry.