Multiple target cell extraction and LC-MS analysis for predicting bioactive components in Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae

A method for predicting bioactive candidates in herbal medicines (HMs) was developed using four types of target cell extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection-mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS) analysis. Through the proposed method, some potential bioactive components in Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, a widely used HM for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, were screened in view of interacting with endothelial cells, myocardial cells, blood platelets and red cells. Specifically, eleven compounds were detected in the desorption eluate of endothelial cells, nine in myocardial cells, fifteen in blood platelets and five in red cells. Totally, sixteen compounds were detected and fourteen of them were identified qualitatively in terms of their MS spectra and in comparison with some of the reference compounds. The results indicate that the proposed method may be applied to prediction of the bioactive multi-compounds in HMs.