Contents variation analysis of free amino acids, nucleosides and nucleobases in semen sojae praeparatum fermentation using UFLC‐QTRAP MS

Abstract UFLC–QTRAP MS was used to develop a sensitive and rapid method of evaluating content variation during Semen sojae praeparatum (SSP) fermentation. It did this through the simultaneous quantification of 22 free amino acids and 16 nucleosides and nucleobases in the raw materials and processed products of SSP. The method was shown to be reproducible and accurate. The limits of detection and quantity values were 0.09–168.75 and 0.31–562.50 ng/mL for the 38 analytes, respectively. The data were examined through principal components analysis to compare the content variations. The quantitative results showed that the ingredients were properly determined in most of the samples and were converted regularly throughout the SSP fermentation process. These results correspond to the morphologic changes and principal components analysis results.