To define the composition of relevant substances in Breviscapine for Injection, in order to improve the quality control of impurity, and ensure the clinical safety. The analysis and structural identification of relevant substances in different specifications and batches of Breviscapine for Injection powders were carried out by HPLC and UPLC-QTOF-MS. Three primary relevant substances, namely 5,6,7,3',4'-pentahydroxyflavone-7-O-glucuronide(3), 3,5,6,7,4'-pentahydroxyflavone-3-O-glucuronide(4) and scutellarein(10), as well as three minor impurities, namely 6-hydroxyapigenin-6-O-glucosyl-7-O-glucuronide(1), methoxylscutellarin(6) and apigenin-7-O-glucuronide(7) were structurally identified by matching retention time, UV spectra, and mass spectra with authentic compounds and MS fragmentation rules. The main relevant substances(3) and(4) were separated and purified by semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were further confirmed by NMR data. The study defined relevant substances of Breviscapine for Injection, and provided reference for improving the quality control level of single impurity in breviscapine preparation.
Keywords: Breviscapine for Injection; UPLC-QTOF/MS; relevant substance; structural identification.