Simultaneous Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of the Coptidis Rhizoma and Euodiae Fructus Herbal Pair by Using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS and UHPLC-DAD.

Yan-Ying Li,Min-Qun Guo,Xiu-Wei Yang,Xue-Mei Li

doi:10.3390/molecules25204782

Abstract

The herbal pair of Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) and Euodiae Fructus (EF) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula used for treating gastro-intestinal disorders. In this study, we established a systematic method for chemical profiling and quantification analysis of the major constituents in the CR-EF herbal pair. A method of ultra high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) for qualitative analysis was developed. Sixty-five compounds, including alkaloids, phenolics, and limonoids, were identified or tentatively assigned by comparison with reference standards or literature data. The UHPLC fingerprints of 19 batches of the CR-EF herbal pair samples were obtained and the reference fingerprint chromatograms were established. Furthermore, nine compounds among 24 common peaks of fingerprints were considered as marker components, which either had high contents or significant bioactivities, were applied to quality control of the CR-EF herbal pair by quantitative analysis. This UHPLC-DAD analysis method was validated by precision, linearity, repeatability, stability, recovery, and so on. The method was simple and sensitive, and thus reliable for quantitative and chemical fingerprint analysis for the quality evaluation and control of the CR-EF herbal pair and related traditional Chinese medicines.

Highlights

Herbal medicines have been playing an important role in human health since ancient times, and its therapeutic theory and clinical effects are contained in precious traditional medical knowledge reserves [1]
In order to obtain efficient extraction of the compounds, variable parameter involved in this procedure such as extraction method, extraction solvent, solvent volume (50, 100, and 120 mL), and soaking and extraction time (30, 45, and 60 min, respectively) were performed
The UHPLC conditions were tried by using various type of column, column temperature, mobile acid, andphase trifluoroacetic acid (TFA))

Summary

Introduction

Herbal medicines have been playing an important role in human health since ancient times, and its therapeutic theory and clinical effects are contained in precious traditional medical knowledge reserves [1]. Among them Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) occupies a significant position in global healthcare systems, and robust quality assessment and control over its complex chemical composition are of great importance to assure its efficacy and safety. Over the past two decades, the aim of TCM chemical fingerprints to obtain a wholistic characterization of complex chemical matrices has become one of the most convincing tools for the quality control and assessment of TCM [1]. Zuojin Pill, or one of Zuojin formula products, and has been used in clinical treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, such as gastric ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, pyloric obstruction, etc., which was first recorded in “Danxi’s experiential therapy” in the 15th century and still widely used in China today [2,3,4]

Methods

Results

Conclusion