A comparative chemical composition and main component content of various parts of <i>Gentiana macrophylla</i> Pall. by UPLC-Q-orbitrap MS and HPLC

In traditional Chinese and Mongolian medicine, the roots and flowers of <i>Gentiana macrophylla</i> Pall. (<i>G. macrophylla</i>) were used as medicinal parts. Yet, no systematic study on the chemical composition and content of the various medicinal parts of <i>G. macrophylla</i> has been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the different medicinal parts of <i>G. macrophylla</i>, through to discuss the its chemical structure and content. Liquid chromatography coupled to electrostatic orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-orbitrap-MS) combined with characteristic chromatogram, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to analyze the chemical composition and content of the various medicinal parts of <i>G. macrophylla</i>, and to compare them. A total of 50 compounds were identified from <i>G. macrophylla</i>, and identify 7 characteristic components were screened, including iridoids (loganic acid, swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, and sweroside), flavonoids (isoorientin and vitexin), and triterpenoids (roburic acid). The contents of iridoids and triterpenoids were higher in roots, and the contents of flavonoids were higher in flowers, stems and leaves. Thus, we can proved that iridoids and triterpenoids represented by loganic acid, swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, sweroside, and roburic acid are important quality markers of <i>G. macrophylla</i> roots. Also, the flavonoids represented by vitexin and isoorientin can be used as important quality markers for the flowers, stems, and leaves of <i>G. macrophylla</i>. And after a comprehensive analysis, we believe that <i>G. macrophylla</i>, as a medicinal plant, its roots, flowers, leaves and stems can be parts with medicinal value, which can be further developed and researched.