Quantitative imaging of natural products in fine brain regions using desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI): Uncaria alkaloids as a case study

Uncaria species (Rubiaceae) are used as traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases, and monoterpene indole alkaloids are the main bioactive constituents. Localization and quantification of CNS drugs in fine brain regions are important to provide insights into their pharmacodynamics, for which quantitative mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has emerged as a powerful technique. A systematic study of the quantitative imaging of seven Uncaria alkaloids in rat brains using desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) was presented. The distribution of the alkaloids in thirteen brain regions was quantified successfully using the calibration curves generated by a modified on-tissue approach. The distribution trend of different Uncaria alkaloids in the rat brain was listed as monoterpene indole alkaloids > monoterpene oxindole alkaloids, R -configuration epimers > S -configuration epimers. Particularly, Uncaria alkaloids were detected directly in the pineal gland for the first time and their enrichment phenomenon in this region had an instructive significance in future pharmacodynamic studies. Graphical abstract