An integrated strategy of UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and HPTLC/PAD-DESI-MSI for the analysis of chemical variations: A case study of Tibetan medicine Tiebangchui

• An integrated strategy was established for chemical characterization of TBC. • UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and HPTLC/PAD-DESI-MSI were combined for chemical analysis of TBC. • Plausible chemical transformations were proposed and rationalized by DFT calculations. • Different chemical compositions could be clearly visualized by HPTLC/PAD-DESI-MSI.