ABSTRACT
Objective To make a rapid determination of ferulic acid and identification of its structure in rhizome of Phragmites communis (RPC). Methods The chemical constituents were extracted by solvent and the relative content and structure of ferulic acid in RPC were determined and identified using GC-TOFMS technique. Results By GC-TOFMS, the ferulic acid was successfully isolated from the extracts of RPC in a relative content of 5%. According to the exact masses and corresponding elemental compositions of molecular ion and eight characteristic ions, a possible fragmentation pathway of the ferulic acid molecule was proposed, by which the molecular structure was confirmed. Conclusion GC-TOFMS technique is a rapid, accurate, sensitive, and reliable method for determination of the relative content of ferulic acid in RPC and identificatiion of its structure.