Exploring the Small-Molecule Composition of Voacanga africana Seeds Using LADI-MS: An Interview with Rabi Musah

Plant seeds are a source of medicinal components used in human therapeutics. As a result, it is important that extraction methods are developed that can remove the bioactive compounds used for these therapeutics without damaging the plant tissue. In this 'Focus on Environmental Analysis' column, LCGC sat down with Dr. Rabi Ann Musah from the University of Albany, who is currently researching methods to protect seed viability while isolating specific compounds. Musah's team used a technique called laser ablation direct analysis in real-time imaging--mass spectrometry (LADI--MS) to analyze the distribution of molecules, such as alkaloids, in Voacanga africana seeds.
PLANTS PLAY AN essential role on Earth. They are critical cogs in several ecosystems that help moderate the planet's climate. Plants have a unique versatility about them that allow them [...]