Development and Validation of a HPLC-esi(+) MS-based Analysis of Toxic DHPAs and Their N-Oxides in Petasites spp. and Related Dietary Supplements

There are (4) objectives to this project: 1) Complete formal preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts describing the development of the HPCL-esi(+) MS method of analysis of toxic dehydopyrrolizidine alkaloids (DHPAs) and their N-oxides in comfrey-derived dietary supplements, 2) Determine the major DHPA and N-oxide metabolites produced by Petasites spp., 3) Isolate analytical standards from commercially-acquired, powdered Petasites sp., and 4) Apply and validate the generically-applicable HPLC-esi(+) MS-based method for the quantitative analysis of DHPAs and their N-oxides in Petasites spp. and derived products for human use.