Objective: To establish an UHPLC-MS/MS method for determining eight primary components (catechin, epigallocatechin, rutin, quercitrin, epicatechin, (+)-dihydromyricetin, myricitrin and dihydroqurcetin) in the young branches and leaves of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge, a medicinal plant from Mongolia, and to compare their contents in samples at different growth stages. Methods: A Waters CORTECS C18 (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.6 μm) chromatographic column was adopted using the mobile phase comprised of water containing 0.1% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B) with gradient elution(0-1 min, 5% B; 1-10 min, 5% B→28% B; 10-11 min, 28% B→95% B; 11-14 min, 95% B; 14-15 min, 95% B→5% B) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min-1. The temperature of the column was set at 40 ℃. Injecting volume was 2 μL. Detection was conducted using electrospray ionization (ESI) in negative ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Results: The linearity of the eight chemical components was found to be excellent in the tested concentration ranges, with correlation coefficients above 0.997 6. Precision, repeatability and stability were satisfactory and the average recoveries were between 97.4% and 106.0% with RSDs≤5.0%. In six batches of leaves, contents of catechin, epigallocatechin, rutin, quercitrin, epicatechin, (+)-dihydromyricetin, myricitrin and dihydroqurcetin were in the ranges of 0.090-0.904 mg·g-1, 0.093-2.258 mg·g-1, 0.001-0.005 mg·g-1, 0.530-6.176 mg·g-1, 0.158-1.561 mg·g-1, 0.002-0.056 mg·g-1, 4.008-10.218 mg·g-1 and 1.049-16.990 mg·g-1, respectively. In six batches of young branches, the contents ranged from 0.384-1.025 mg·g-1, 0.911-2.427 mg·g-1, 0.008-0.127 mg·g-1, 0.870-2.295 mg·g-1, 0.659-1.746 mg·g-1, 0.125-1.079 mg·g-1, 2.296-4.681 mg·g-1 and 1.958-4.946 mg·g-1, respectively. The contents of eight components varied a lot in samples from different parts. The contents of myricitrin, rutin and quercitrin in the leaves exhibited noticeable changes with the growth cycle, suggesting their potential as quality control markers for leaves of Xanthoceras sorbifolia. Conclusion: The method is accurate, sensitive, stable, repeatable, and suitable for simultaneous determination of eight components in Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge, offering reference for quality control of its leaves and branches.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |