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Proposing anti-counterfeiting pharmacopoeia quality markers for Shenlingbaizhu granule based on UHPLC-Q-orbitrap-MS
Jingyuan Zeng1, Xican Li1, Rongxin Cai1
1School of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Introduction:
Shenlingbaizhu granule, a Traditional Chinese Medicine prescription comprising Renshen, Gancao, and Shanyao, is widely consumed in China nowadays.
Objective:
The study tries to propose pharmacopoeia quality markers (Q-markers) to prevent counterfeiting involving Renshen, Gancao, and Shanyao.
Methodology:
A novel strategy, that is, library-based ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry, was used to analyse the lyophilised aqueous powder of Shenlingbaizhu granule. Subsequently, quantum chemistry calculation and UV-vis spectra scanning were also performed through theoretical or experimental approaches.
Result:
Thirty-two isomers have been strictly distinguished, especially positional isomeric isochlorogenic acid B versus isochlorogenic acid C, positional isomeric schaftoside versus isoschaftoside, positional isomeric ginsenoside Rg2 versus 20S-ginsenoside Rg3, and stereoisomeric 20S-ginsenoside Rg3 versus 20R-ginsenoside Rg3. Seventeen compounds were unexpectedly observed, particularly scoparone and pectolinarigenin, while a total of 76 bioactive compounds have been putatively identified in the study. The quantum chemistry calculation and UV-vis spectra scanning results revealed that glycyrrhizic acid, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rb1, and diosgenin displayed different dipole moment values and maximum absorption wavelengths from each other.
Conclusion:
The study recommends glycyrrhizic acid, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rb1, and diosgenin as four anti-counterfeiting Q-markers for the pharmacopoeia. The anti-counterfeiting Q-markers can be detected using conventional HPLC. The observation of 17 unexpected compounds updates our knowledge regarding the bioactives of Shenlingbaizhu granule.
