Application of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometric Imaging in Analysis of Medicinal Plants

As a soft ionization mass spectrometry technique, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) can quickly and reliably obtain information of molecular composition and structure from plant tissues, especially the information of component distribution through imaging. Therefore, it has attracted more and more attention in the analysis of medicinal plants. In this paper, the application of MALDI-MS imaging technology in the analysis of medicinal plants was summarized and prospected.