Analysis of phenolic compounds in Epimedium plants using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

A new method based on HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) has been established for the analysis of phenolic compounds in Epimedium plants. The characteristic fragmentation pathways of 29 phenolic compounds were studied, and 126 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized based on their mass spectra from fourteen samples including the aerial samples and the underground parts of the seven species. Furthermore, the differences in phenolic compound profiles between different Epimedium plants and two parts of the seven species were reported for the first time. Due to their significant chemical differences, these Epimedium species should be used separately in clinical practice.