•Combining LC–MS with semi-preparative LC and NMR was efficient to identify isomers.•123 constituents were identified in two TCM formulae by LC–MS and NMR.•21 constituents without reference standards were prepared by semi-preparative LC.•Three epimers of known compounds were showed by NMR analysis to be novel compounds.•Characteristic fragmentation patterns of iridoids and alkaloids were discussed.There have been increasing works on identification of the chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). However, isomers cannot be distinguished generally only by MS data, and the structures of unknown compounds cannot be confirmed. In this study, semi-preparative LC guided by LC–MS was used to prepare the isomers in microscale followed by off-line NMR analysis to confirm their structures. This approach was applied to identifying the constituents in two TCM formulae, Zhi-Zi-Gan-Cao-Chi-Tang (ZZGCCT) and Zhi-Zi-Bai-Pi-Tang (ZZBPT). A total number of 119 constituents were identified tentatively or unambiguously by LC–IT–MS, LC–Q–TOF–MS, and NMR. Among them, 20 constituents were characterized unambiguously by comparing with the reference substances. In addition, 21 constituents without reference substances were prepared for the following 1D-NMR and/or 2D-NMR analysis, and their structures were unambiguously identified by MS, 1D-NMR, and 2D-NMR. Two triterpenoid glycosides (compounds 134 and 140) and one flavonoid glycoside (compound 62a or 62b) were showed to be novel compounds. Compounds 125 and 129, as well as 62a,b, were epimers.

•Chemical profiles of two Senecio plants were comprehensively compared by LC–MS.•83 Constituents were identified unambiguously or tentatively by LC–MS and NMR.•Eleven constituents showed inhibition effect against NO production.•Ten major constituents (seven active ones) were determined in the preparations.•Senecio cannabifolius contained more active constituents and less toxic PAs than its variation.Two Senecio plants, Senecio cannabifolius Less. and its variety S. cannabifolius Less. var. integrifolius (Kiodz.) Kidam., were both used as the raw material of Feining granule, a traditional Chinese medicine product for treating respiratory diseases. In this study, the chemical profiles of these two plants were investigated and compared by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). A total number of 83 constituents, including 55 organic acids, 11 flavonoids, 4 alkaloids, 3 terpenes and 10 other types of compounds, were characterized. The results indicated that the levels of most flavonoids were higher in S. cannabifolius than in S. cannabifolius var. integrifolius, however, the levels of hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) were higher in S. cannabifolius var. integrifolius than in S. cannabifolius. Fifteen constituents were evaluated on lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced RAW 264.7 cells, and eleven of them showed inhibition effect against nitric oxide (NO) production. Finally, the levels of ten major constituents (including seven anti-inflammatory active ones) and two PAs in Feining granule from two Senecio plants were determined and compared by the LC–UV and LC–MS methods, respectively. It was found that one organic acid (homogentisic acid) and two PAs (seneciphylline and senecionine) had higher contents in the preparation of S. cannabifolius var. integrifolius than in that of S. cannabifolius, however, the situations were inverse for the levels of four organic acids and flavonoids (chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, and isochlorogenic acid B). Based on the above results, S. cannabifolius might be a better raw material for Feining granule than S. cannabifolius var. integrifolius, because it contained more anti-inflammatory constituents and less hepatotoxic PAs than the latter. However, more pharmacological evaluations should be carried out to support the selection. The results in this study were helpful for the quality control of Feining granule.

•An approach was proposed to identify effective constituents in JZJT.•Activity index was suggested to evaluate the contribution of every constituent.•Combination of NMR with LC–MS was efficient to characterize TCM formulae.•108 constituents were identified, including eighteen potential novel compounds.•Polymethoxy flavones were major active constituents for anti-inflammatory activity.The anti-inflammatory constituents of Ju-Zhi-Jiang-Tang (JZJT), a formula used for thousands of years in China, were identified by LC–MS and pharmacological activity evaluation. In this study, the whole extract of formula was separated into multiple components to facilitate the analytical process. To characterize their contributions to pharmacological activity of formula, activity indexes of constituents were proposed and calculated for the first time, which integrated the chemical and pharmacological information of multiple components. Among the 151 constituents detected in JZJT by LC–Q-TOF-MS and LC–IT-MS, a total number of 108 constituents were identified unambiguously or tentatively, including eighteen potential novel compounds. And, the structures of some constituents were confirmed by NMR. According to their activity indexes, polymethoxy flavones were indicated as the major active constituents responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of JZJT. To verify the feasibility of activity indexes in predicting the active constituents, nine compounds with positive and negative index values were selected to validate their anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. The results showed that two polymethoxy flavones with higher positive index values, i.e., nobiletin and tangeretin can significantly exert anti-inflammatory effects, while other compounds with negative values did not show any activity. In conclusion, our results indicated the proposed approach might be an efficient and rapid way to identify active constituents of TCM formulae.

•144 compounds in Gui-Zhi-Tang were identified by LC-Q-TOF–MS and LC-PDA-IT–MS.•Diagnostic ion filtering method for identifying flavonoids was recommended.•Rapid classification method for oleanane-type triterpenoids was recommended.Gui-Zhi-Tang was considered to be the most famous formula in Shang-Han-Lun, treating 32 symptoms of disease after adding up or cutting down crude drugs. The chemical constituents in Gui-Zhi-Tang were comprehensively studied by rapid resolution liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RRLC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with rapid resolution liquid chromatography – diode array detector – ion trap mass spectrometry (RRLC-DAD-IT-MS) in this work, and a total number of 187 compounds were detected. Systematic diagnostic ion filtering strategies were recommended for flavonoids and oleanane-type triterpenoids, respectively. On the basis of the summarized strategies, compounds in Glycyrrhizae could be easily classified into flavones, isoflavones, flavanones or chalcones with special structures, and triterpene saponins with different sugar moieties. Consequently, among 187 compounds, 144 ones were confirmed or assumed tentatively. In addition, nine potential novel compounds were reported for the first time. This approach provided a rapid method for characterizing the constituents in Gui-Zhi-Tang, and would be also helpful in other TCM formulae analysis.

•A LC–MS/MS method for determination of seventeen mycotoxins was developed.•Four different clean-up approaches were investigated and compared.•The method was used to determine mycotoxins residues in Puerariae lobatae radix.•Three batches of TCM were found with contamination of AFB1 or T-2 mycotoxins.This work reported an efficient and accurate liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for simultaneous determination of seventeen mycotoxins in Puerariae lobatae radix, a frequently used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The effects of four different clean-up methods, including TC-M160, TC-T220, Mycosep 227, and QuEChERS method, on the recoveries of mycotoxins were investigated and compared. Finally, TC-M160 was chosen for better recovery and repeatability for mycotoxins analysis. The analytes were separated on an Agilent ZORBAX SB C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm particle size), and eluted with a mobile phase consisting of (A) water containing 0.1% formic acid and (B) acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The separated compounds were detected by a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in positive electrospray ionization with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The results of method validation accorded with the requirement of analytical method for mycotoxins in COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 401/2006. The developed method was successfully applied for determination of mycotoxins in seventeen batches of Puerariae lobatae radix collected from different provinces of China. Three batches of them were found with contamination of mycotoxins AFB1 at (0.751 ± 0.176) μg/kg, T-2 at (1.10 ± 0.01) μg/kg, and T-2 at (0.853 ± 0.044) μg/kg, respectively. The results demonstrated that the proposed method was suitable for monitoring mycotoxins residues in Puerariae lobatae radix.

Xiongdankaiming tablet (XDKMT), a well-known compound in traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used for the treatment of acute iridocyclitis and primary open-angle glaucoma. In this paper, accurate and reliable methods were developed for the identification of 20 constituents using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array and electron spray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA/ESI-MSn), and determination of nine of the constituents (chlorogenic acid, gentiopicroside, isochlorogenic acid B, diosmetin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, apigenin, diosmetin, tauroursodeoxycholic acid, acacetin, and taurochenodeoxycholic acid) was developed using HPLC with ultraviolet absorption detector and evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-UV/ELSD) for the first time. The best results were obtained on a Zorbax SB-C18 column with gradient elution using water (0.1% formic acid) (A) and methanol (0.1% formic acid) (B) at a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid and taurochenodeoxycholic acid, owing to their low UV absorption, were detected by ELSD. The other seven compounds were analyzed by HPLC-UV with variable wavelengths. The calibration curves of all nine constituents showed good linear regression (R2>0.9996) within the linearity ranges. The limits of detection and quantification were in the ranges of 0.0460–9.90 μg/ml and 0.115–24.8 μg/ml, respectively. The accuracy, in terms of recovery, varied from 95.3% to 104.9% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 4.4%. Precision (with the intra- and inter-day variations less than 4.4%) was also suitable for its intended use. The developed method was successfully applied for the analysis of major components in XDKMT, which provides an appropriate method for the quality control of XDKMT.