Rapid identification of traditional Chinese herbal medicine by direct analysis in real time (DART) mass spectrometry

• Eight types of traditional Chinese herbal medicine were analyzed by using DART-MS.
• Alkaloids, flavonoids and some ginsenosides were directly detected.
• Thirteen ginsenosides need derivatization to get good mass spectra.
• Two ginsenosides and two ginsengenins were detected without derivatization.
• The ionization mechanisms of these analytes were discussed in detail.

Direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS) was employed as a novel fast method to identify traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM). In order to obtain high quality mass spectra, the ionization temperature was optimized for every kind of sample. With minimal or no sample pretreatment, major TCHM components, including alkaloids, flavonoids and some ginsenosides, were directly detected within several seconds, while thirteen ginsenosides need derivatization to get good mass spectra. Pseudoginsenoside F11, compound K, protopanaxatriol (PPT) and protopanaxadiol (PPD), for the first time were detected without derivatization. Among five of eight tested Chinese herbal medicines, Rhizoma Corydalis, Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii, Arecae Semen, Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis and Scutellariae Radix, were first time identified by DART-MS. In addition, the ionization mechanisms of major herbal components, alkaloids, flavonoids and ginsenosides, were discussed in detail. Our results demonstrated that DART-MS could provide a rapid, reliable and environmental friendly method for the rapid identification of TCHM, and may be applicable to other plants.

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