Solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometric analysis of saponins in a Chinese patent medicine of formulated Salvia miltiorrhizae and Panax notoginseng

In this paper, a method using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and HPLC/ESI-MSn for the identification of the major saponins in “Danshen Dripping Pill”, a Chinese patent medicine consisting of Salvia miltiorrhizae and Panax notoginseng, is described. Through solid-phase extraction process, the saponins in “Danshen Dripping Pill” were separated from the phenolic constituents of S. miltiorrhizae and, meanwhile, efficiently concentrated. Subsequently, these saponins were characterized by HPLC/ESI-MSn analysis. Based on the studies of MS and MS2 spectra and the comparison with reference compounds and literature data, a total of 19 saponins were identified.