Comparison of the Chemical Composition in Different Parts of <i>Paris polyphylla Var. Yunnanensis</i> Using Ultrahigh‐Performance Liquid Chromatography‐Quadrupole Time‐of‐Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry Combined With Molecular Networking and Quantita

ABSTRACT Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis (PPY) is a traditional and valuable Chinese medicine in China, which is one of the important raw materials for many proprietary Chinese medicines, but its wild resources are scarce and the quality of cultivated products varies. Steroidal saponins are the main active components of PPY; in order to analyze the differences in the chemical constituents contained in different parts of PPY, the present study was conducted to characterize the steroidal constituents in different parts of PPY (axial roots, stems, and leaves) by ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐Q/TOF‐HRMS) coupled with molecular network technology and to determine the contents of the nine active components in PPY (tall and short stalk) by high‐performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array (HPLC‐PDA). The results showed that 62 chemical constituents were identified from different parts of PPY, and there were significant differences in composition types and contents in different parts, among which the composition types and contents of steroidal saponins in axial roots and leaves were higher, while those in stems were lower. The contents of three steroidal saponins specified in China Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) are higher than 0.6% in the axial roots and leaves, indicating that the leaves of PPY can be used as one of the potential sources of steroidal saponins. The composition of PPY was similar in tall and short stalks, but higher total steroidal saponin content in taller stalk. In conclusion, this study points out the direction for resource conservation and rational development of PPY, and provides a basis for comprehensive evaluation of the quality of PPY medicinal herbs and screening of high‐quality PPY germplasm.