Rapid Analysis of Components in Coptis chinensis Franch by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

Background: Coptis chinensis Franch is a traditional Chinese medical herb.
Objective: In this article, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to rapidly, qualitatively, and comprehensively identify the components in Coptis chinensis Franch.
Materials and Methods: Chromatographic separation was achieved on an Agilent Zorbax RRHD Eclipse Plus C ₁₈ column. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid water (A) and 0.1% formic acid acetonitrile (B) with a gradient program. Qualitative analysis was performed on an Agilent 6540 quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer, which was equipped with a Dual AJS ESI source operating in negative mode.
Results: A total of 30 alkaloid and non-alkaloid components of Coptis chinensis Franch were identified in only 14 min.
Conclusion: This study helped to provide a basis for the quality control of Coptis chinensis Franch.
Summary: Qualitative analysis method of chlorogenic alkaloids and non-alkaloids in Coptis chinensis Franch is developed by Ultra-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method.Established UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis method is validated with rapidness and accuracy.The developed method was successfully applied for qualitative analysis of Coptis chinensis Franch sample collected from cultivation place in China. Abbreviations used: Q-TOF-MS: quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, UPLC: ultra-performance liquid chromatography, pos: positive, neg: negative. Q-TOF-MS: quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, UPLC: ultra-performance liquid chromatography, pos: positive, neg: negative. UPLC: ultra-performance liquid chromatography, pos: positive, neg: negative. pos: positive, neg: negative. neg: negative.
Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.