Rapid characterization of the chemical constituents of Wangbi Capsule by UPLC coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Abstract

Wangbi Capsule is a compound preparation composed of 17 traditional Chinese medicines, which is widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In our study, a rapid and straightforward analytical method was successfully established by using Ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry technology to quickly separate and identify the chemical constituents of Wangbi Capsule. The chromatography was performed on a Universal XB-C18 column (2.1 mm × 150 mm, 3 μm) by the mobile phase containing acetonitrile (A)-0.1% formic acid and water (B) at the flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The positive and negative ions of the samples were analyzed by extraction ion chromatography. Based on accurate mass spectrometry informations such as excimer ions and fragment ions, combined with the reference materials and the reference literature, 140 compounds in the Wangbi Capsule were identified or preliminarily characterized. The results of the study show that Wangbi Capsules mainly contain 3 types of nucleosides, 31 types of alkaloids, 12 types of organic acids, 29 types of flavonoids, 12 types of monoterpene glycosides, 30 types of coumarins, 10 types of chromones, 3 types of saponins, 6 kinds of phenylethanoid glycosides and other chemical components. The method established in this study can quickly and efficiently identify the chemical constituents in Wangbi Capsules. It is hoped that it will have a certain significance for the characterization of other Chinese medicine components and lay the foundation for pharmacological research and subsequent in vivo studies of Wangbi Capsules.