Comparing major alkaloids of Fritillariae Hupehensis Bulbs (FHB) and congeneric plants by HPLC-ELSD and HPLC-ESI-MSn

In the study, the major alkaloids from Fritillariae Hupehensis Bulbs (FHB) have been analysed for the first time by the combined use of the following two methods: the simultaneous quantitation of three alkaloids by using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) and the simultaneous characterisation of seven alkaloids by using HPLC coupled with electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry analysers detection (HPLC-ESI-MS(n)). The other four congeneric species were compared by using the established method. Both correlation coefficients of similarity in chromatograms were calculated for quantitative expression of HPLC profiles. The results revealed that the chromatogram profile combining similarity evaluation could efficiently identify and distinguish FHB from other different origins of Fritillaria species. The established method was considered to be suitable for checking the genuine origin and quality control of FHB.