Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the major constituents in Jin-Mu-Gan-Mao tablet by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection and quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

Abstract

Jin-Mu-Gan-Mao tablet is a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal preparation, which has been used to treat the common cold in China. In this study, a systematic method was established for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the major constituents in Jin-Mu-Gan-Mao tablet. First, a method of high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was developed for identification of the multi-constituents. Thirty-one compounds including ten phenolic acids, 18 flavonoids, and three iridoid glycosides were clearly identified by comparison with the reference standards, and 11 compounds were deduced by comparison with the literature data. Second, a new quantitative analysis method of Jin-Mu-Gan-Mao tablet was established by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection. Twelve compounds, either with high contents or strong bioactivities, were chosen as marker components. This analytical method was validated through intra- and interday precision, repeatability, and stability, with respective relative standard deviations less than 1.74, 2.54, 2.44, and 2.48%. The limits of detection and quantification were less than 0.327 and 0.881 μg/mL, respectively. The overall recoveries ranged from 97.04-102.76% (relative standard deviation ≤ 2.91%). Then this validated method was applied to determine ten batches of Jin-Mu-Gan-Mao tablet. The results indicated that these new approaches can be applicable for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Jin-Mu-Gan-Mao tablet.