Premium
Rapid Detection and Characterisation of Triterpene Saponins from the Root of Pulsatilla chinensis ( Bunge ) Regel by HPLC‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS/MS
Author(s) -
Ling Yun,
Lin Zhanqing,
Zha Wenjuan,
Lian Tou,
You Shanshan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
phytochemical analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1099-1565
pISSN - 0958-0344
DOI - 10.1002/pca.2613
Subject(s) - triterpene , chemistry , chromatography , electrospray ionization , mass spectrometry , high performance liquid chromatography , electrospray , glycoside , terpene , stereochemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Abstract Introduction Triterpene saponins are the major bioactive components in the root of Pulsatilla chinensis ( Bunge ) Regel (RPC), and have been reported to possess antitumor and immunological adjuvant activities. However, the isolation, purification and elucidation procedures of triterpene saponins from RPC are difficult and time consuming due to high polarity and structural similarity. Objectives To develop an analytical strategy for discovering and elucidating triterpene saponins in RPC. Methods Methanolic extract of RPC is analysed by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation and quadrupole time‐of‐flight‐mass spectrometry (HPLC‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS/MS). The MS and MS/MS experiments are conducted using the negative‐ionisation mode, in order to provide molecular‐mass information and production spectra for the structural elucidation of compounds. Results Based on retention times, accurate mass and mass spectrometric fragmentation, 24 triterpene saponins are identified or tentatively elucidated from RPC, of which nine triterpene saponins were not reported previously. Conclusion The HPLC‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS/MS could be employed as a rapid, effective technique to screen and identify triterpene saponins in RPC without tedious and time‐consuming isolation of pure constituents. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.