Rapid analysis of the bioactive components in Saxifraga stolonifera, an edible and medicinal herb with anti-tumor effects, by HPLC-DAD, ESI/MSn

Saxifraga stolonifera is an edible and herbaceous plant, which has been demonstrated to have anti-tumor effects in vivo and in vitro. The aim of this paper is to determine the main bioactive components inS. stolonifera, and their distribution in different parts of S. stolonifera and in S. stolonifera that was cultivated in different places in China using a high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector and electrospray ionization/ion trap mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn). Four main components were identified and three were quantified. The contents of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid and bergenin had significant differences not only between the roots and stems-leaves of the plant, but also among different cultivated varieties of S. stolonifera. The experiment showed that the method used here exhibited good repeatability and recovery. Therefore, the results provide reliable data for research and development in the future on the level and distribution of the three bioactive components of S. stolonifera.