Development of an LC-MS Based Assay for Quantifying Eight Flavonoid Compounds and Its Application in Chinese Herbal Medicine Analysis

Objectives Flemingia prostrata and Scutellaria baicalensis are vital components of Chinese herbal medicine, renowned for their diverse therapeutic applications attributed to rich flavonoid content. Accurate quantification of these flavonoids is crucial for ingredient quality control and pharmacological studies. Methods This present study reports the development and validation of a rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of eight key flavonoid compounds in traditional Chinese medicine, including genistein, prunetin, flemichin D, kushenol E and so on. The assay method utilized a Phenyl column based liquid chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer as the instrument for quantification. Results The assay demonstrated excellent linearity, precision, accuracy and stability. The validated method was successfully applied to quantify the eight flavonoids in multiple batches of Flemingia prostrata , Scutellaria baicalensis and Lycium barbarum , revealing variations in flavonoid profiles. Conclusion This reliable and efficient assay provides a valuable tool for the comprehensive evaluation and quality assessment of ingredients in Chinese herbal medicine, contributing to the standardization of their medicinal use.