The spatial distribution of components in Moringa oleifera (Lam) seed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI)

In this paper, 70 % methanol was used as solvent to extract the principal components from Moringa oleifera (Lam) seed with the ratio (w/v, 1:10) by ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The extract in Lam seed was detected by high resolution mass spectrometry and MS/MS spectra. The result suggests that there are three principal components including malic acid, d-trehalose and 4-(α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy) benzyl glucosinolate in this extract. Based on this result, the spatial distribution of these components in Lam seed was visually obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). There is much malic acid in the center of endosperm in Lam kernel and little in the shell of Lam seed. d-trehalose is mainly distributed in the seed coat of Lam seed, and almost no d-trehalose is distributed in the kernel of Lam seed. 4-(α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy) benzyl glucosinolate is distributed in the seed coat and endosperm of Lam seed. The relative content of this compound in the seed coat of Lam seed is much higher than that in the endosperm. The result further suggests that the different component in Lam seed is distributed in different part. This study can provide some valuable reference for efficient extracting active components from Lam.