ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish and compare the HPLC fingerprints of different medicinal parts of Morus alba. METHODS: An HPLC analysis was performed on an Agilent Eclipse XDB C18 (4. 6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm) chromatographic column, using gradient elution with acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous formic acid at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1. The column temperature was kept at 30 ℃, and the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm. The data was analyzed with Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Version 2004A). RESULTS: The HPLC fingerprints and common models of different medicinal parts of M. alba were established. The numbers of common peaks obtained in the fingerprints of Mori Cortex, Mori Ramulus, Mori folium, and Mori Fructus were 10, 11, 12, and 8, respectively. Ten characteristic peaks were identified by comparison with the reference substances and accurate molecular weights determined by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Mori Cortex and Mori Ramulus both had mulberroside A, oxyresveratrol, kuwanon G, and morusin. Rutin and isoquercitrin were detected in both Mori folium and Mori Fructus. CONCLUSION: The method is stable, reliable, and repeatable. The composition profiles of different medicinal parts are established, which provides a scientific basis for the quality control of M. alba.