UPLC-Q-TOF/MS for rapid analysis of chemical constituents in Sanhuang tablets / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

The qualitative analysis method of ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was established for the chemical constituents in Sanhuang tablets. Waters ACQUITY BEH C₁₈ (2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm) column was used with 0.1% formic acid solution (A)-0.1% formic acid acetonitrile (B) as the mobile phase for gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.2 mL•min⁻¹; the sample volume was 1 μL and the column temperature was 30 ℃. The high-resolution quadrupole time-flight mass spectrometry was used as detector with electrospray ion source in both positive and negative models, and the dry gas temperature was 325 ℃. Based on the analysis of mass spectrometry and literature reports, 38 compounds were confirmed, including 1 alkaloid, 1 dianthrone compound, 6 tannins, 7 anthraquinone glycosides, 6 anthraquinones and 17 flavonoids. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method is simple, reliable and rapid to identify the chemical compositions of Sanhuang tablets, and it is helpful to reveal its chemical constituents and pharmacodynamic substances.