Abstract
Amadori compounds(1-deoxy-1-amino-2-ketoses) are important precursors of color, flavor and aroma produced in foods. Amadori compounds occur naturally in tobacco. The contribution of amadori compounds to smoke quality has been (of) interest because of their roles of the Maillard reaction in the leaf chemistry. The amounts of these compound in tobacco are affected by the processes of aging, drying and storage conditions. In this study, eight compounds were chemically synthesized because amadori compounds (have not been sold commercially these days.) were not available for obtaining commercially. The aim of this study was to develop the analytical method of amadori compounds in tobacco leaf by the liquid chromatography mass spectrometry using triple quadrupole analyzer(LC-MS/MS). This method was simple, rapid, selective and sensitive, and eight amadori compounds were simultaneously and quantitatively analyzed within 20 minutes. This method showed excellent accuracy and precision. Recovery rates of amadori compounds ranged from 86% to 102%, with relative standard deviation(RSD) ranged from 2.6% to 5.9%. This method was applied to analysis of amadori compounds contents of tobacco leaves in different varieties. Furthermore, it was expected that the method could be extended to the analysis of other amadori compounds.