[Rapid identification of caffeoyl compounds from Erigerontis Herba by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with diagnostic ion...

On this basis of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), this study employed a strategy integrating diagnostic ion filtering(DIF) and feature-based molecular networking(FBMN) for the rapid identification of caffeoyl compounds in Erigerontis Herba. Target compounds were directionally screened and classified via DIF, while false-positive interferences were effectively eliminated through the cluster analysis of the FBMN. The structural elucidation was performed by integrating high-resolution mass spectrometry data analysis, database matching, and comparison with reference standards and relevant literature reports. Consequently, a total of 48 caffeoyl compounds were identified from Erigerontis Herba, 12 of which were reported for the first time and 8 were confirmed by reference standards. This study significantly improves the efficiency of component profiling, enriches the research on the material basis of Erigerontis Herba, provides a scientific basis for elucidating its traditional application principles and pharmacological mechanisms, and offers a valuable reference for the rapid analysis of complex components in TCM and ethnomedicine.