Rapid characterization of TCM Qianjinteng by UPLC-QTOF-MS and its application in the evaluation of three species of Stephania.

A method for rapid identification of bioactive components in herbals from Stephania species was developed by utilizing UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS in this study. Sixty-three alkaloids including the types of proaporphine, aporphine, protoberberine, morphine, hasubanan, benzylisoquinoline and bisbenzylisoquinoline were characterized. Among them, 29 components were selected for semi-quantitative analyses to characterize the difference of chemical compositions among three Stephania species. The results revealed that bisbenzylisoquinoline-type of alkaloids are the representative components of SB (Subgen. Botryodiscia). The content of aporphine-type of alkaloids was much higher in ST (Subgen. Tuberiphania) than that in SS (Subgen. Stephania), while the content of protoberberine-type of alkaloids was higher than that in ST. The present study offered an efficient approach for quality control of Qianjinteng based on the rapid identification and semi-quantification of alkaloids in Stephania species by using UPLC-QTOF-MS.