Identification and characterization of anthraquinones in CASSIA TORA L. by liquid chromatography connected with time of flight mass spectrometry and ion trap mass spectrometry

A combination of HPLC-TOF/MS and HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS as a powerful method to profile and identify multi-components in herb medicine was developed. Cassia tora L., a popular traditional Chinese medicine, was studied using the combinative method as an application. Based on the mass spectra, UV spectra and retention time, 13 anthraquinones were identified or tentatively characterized. It is the first time that the systematic analysis of the anthraquinones compounds, the main bioactive components, derived from Cassia tora L. was provided. This identification and structural elucidation of the chemical constituents provided essential data for further quality control and pharmacological mechanism research. With the introduction of the combinative HPLC-MS technique analytical system to traditional Chinese medicine, we expected that approach would be useful for the screening and characterization of compounds in other herb medicines.