An activity-integrated strategy involving ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and fraction collector for rapid screening and characterization of the α-glucosidase inhibitors in Coptis chinensis Franch.

- An activity integrated strategy was developed to screen inhibitors of α-glucosidase.
- Alkaloids were the main inhibitors of α-glucosidase in huanglian extract.
- Coptisine, epiberberine, jatrorrhizin and berberine were α-glucosidase inhibitors.
- A powerful tool for screening and identifying active ingredients from TCMs.