ABSTRACT
Objective To elucidate the ESI-MS performance of lipophilic tanshinones and to establish a fingerprint of lipophilic tanshinones of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhiza.Methods The lipophilic tanshinones were extracted by ultrasonic wave with 95% ethanol from Radix Salviae Miltiorrhiza and the extracts were analyzed directly in positive ion mode by electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry(ESI-MS).Results The lipophilic tanshinones were easily to form molecular ions ~+ and dimeric sodium adduct ions ~+ in positive ion mode,molecular ions of lipophilic tanshinones were fragmentated through lossing H_2O,CO and A-ring cleavages in ESI-MS~2.The ESI-MS fingerprints of lipophilic tanshinone extracts with 14 selected characteristic peaks analyzed with SPSS software were characteristic and stable.Conclusion Lipophilic tanshinones have similar ESI-MS performance;the ESI-MS fingerprint is a useful tool for a rapid and special identification of lipophilic tanshinones in selected traditional Chinese medicine.