Research Article
Dinara S Gunasekera
Abstract
There are a number of natural remedies against cancer. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has been proven to be a natural remedy against cancer, due to the cyanogenic compounds such as linamarin. A rapid and simple liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) method was developed to identify and quantify linamarin in Cassava. The method was developed using various Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) extracts. Developed application is not limited to Cassava, but can be extended to other types of linamarin containing plant materials as well. Linamarin was quantified by the LC-MS system, with the mobile phase being H2O:CH3CN, 8:2, and a reverse phase C18 column. This method was utilized to determine the concentration of linamarin in leaf and tuber of M. esculenta. Linamarin concentrations from different types of extraction methods such as acidified water, acidified methanol, cryocooling and hot water were studied. The acidified methanol extract yielded significantly high amounts of linamarin in its intact form and therefore determined as the most suitable sample preparation method to determine linamarin concentrations in Cassava. This LC-MS based linamarin detection system was shown to be sensitive, efficient, cost effective, and highly reproducible.