Objective: To establish an ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometric (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) method for analyzing the flavonoids constituents in Apocynum venetom leaves.
Methods: The analysis was performed on an Alltima C18 analytical column with a gradient solvent system of acetonitrile-1.0% acetic acid at the flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The detection wavelength was at 254 nm and the column temperature was at 30 degrees C. Identification and detection were collected under the negative electrospray ion mode using Q-TOF-MS.
Results: 11 flavonoids constituents being separated and identified, six of them were detected simultaneously. The results showed that the six detected flavonoids constituents had good linearity between concentrations and peak area (r > 0.9996), and the average recoveries of the method were between 94.3% - 103.3%.
Conclusion: The method is accurate, reproducible, and can be used for the quality control of Apocynum venetom leaves.