Analysis of Targeted Components in the Combination Extract of Hovenia dulcis and Phyllanthus emblica by UPLC-MS/MS

Abstract

This study aimed to establish a UPLC-MS/MS method for rapid analysis and identification of target components in the combination extract of Hovenia dulcis and Phyllanthus emblica. The gradient elution was carried out with methanol (A) −0.2% formic acid solution (A) with low rate of 1.0 mL · min−1, column temperature of 30 °C, detection wavelength of 285 nm. The ESI ion source was used to collect data under the negative ion mode. Through analysis and identification, five target components were inferred, namely gallic acid, dihydromyricetin, corilagine, taxifolin, and ellagic acid in the combination extract. Quantitative analysis was conducted on the combination extract. By utilizing the theory of modern supramolecular technology in traditional Chinese medicine, the functional composite product was obtained by selecting the compound extraction of Hovenia dulcis and Phyllanthus emblica as raw materials, and quantitative analysis was conducted on on the combination extract. The results showed that the flavonoid extraction rate and the content of target components were both higher when the mass ratio of Hovenia dulcis to Phyllanthus emblica was 1:1 and 1:2. This indicates that the co-extraction of Hovenia dulcis and Phyllanthus emblica not only simplified the extraction process but also enhances the extraction rate of the flavonoids in Hovenia dulcis. The developed UPLC-MS/MS method is rapid, sensitive, which provides a technical basis for the selection of raw material mass ratios and product development of Hovenia dulcis and Phyllanthus emblica combination.