Visualization of Flavonoids in Viola Flower Petals Using Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI)

Introduction

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has attracted considerable interest as a technology for visualizing the localization of compounds in biospecimens. MSI enables label-free analysis of the localization of multiple analytes from the same section, and also has the potential for discovery of compounds which exist in a section even in trace amounts if the compounds have accumulated locally. For these reasons, major breakthroughs are expected by efficiently searching for functional substances from biospecimens using localization information as indicators (biomarkers). As advantages of the Shimadzu iMScope TRIO imaging mass microscope, the laser irradiation position can be determined accurately from the optical image obtained by microscopic observation, and the effect of fine irregularities of the sample surface, like those on flower petals, is minimal due to the ion trap feature. The ion trap also enables accurate selection of the precursor ion in MS/MS analysis. This Application Note introduces an example of MSI of the flavonoids that coexist locally with the known plant pigment anthocyanin, using viola flower petals as samples.

January 27, 2021 GMT