Highly Sensitive and Rapid Determination and Identification of 13 Major Constituents in the Traditional Chinese Medicinal Formula Chaihu-Qingdai Decoction by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Combined with Mass Spectrometry

Chaihu-Qingdai Decoction (CHQDD) has been widely used in China to clear liver-fire, and its monarch drugs are Chaihu and Qingdai. However, the current research on the material basis of the medicinal effect of CHQDD is unclear, which limits its further research. In this study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry was proposed for the quality control of CHQDD based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of 13 active ingredients (saikosaponin A, saikosaponin D, indigo, indirubin, tryptanthrin, berberine, gardenoside, liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, ferulic acid, hesperidin, and luteolin), the index component of each single herb. In addition, a comprehensive comparative analysis method of CHQDD and its monarch drug decoction was established to analyze the variations in active components before and after compatibility. The results show that 13 major constituents were identified and determined in CHQDD. The content of indirubin, tryptanthrin, and saikosaponin D in CHQDD is significantly higher than the Chaihu or Qindai decoction, while the content of indigo in CHQDD is decreased compared with the Qindai decoction. This study successfully identified the quality features of CHQDD, which can serve as a reference for further clinical application of CHQDD. Consequently, this strategy provides a valuable reference for the exploration of traditional Chinese medicine formula compatibility.