Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics combined with quantitative assay unveiled the metabolic difference among the root, leaf, and flower bud of Panax notoginseng

Despite Panax notoginseng (Sanchi: the root and rhizome) is globally popular serving as the source of food additives, health-care products, and traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the saponin difference between the root (PNR) and two aerial parts (leaf, PNL; flower bud, PNF) that can be vicariously used, remains unclear. Authentication of Sanchi, particular from the Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), poses great challenges. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/ion mobility-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS)-based untargeted metabolomics and quantitative assay by UHPLC-UV were utilized to establish the “Identification Markers” for Sanchi. Targeted monitoring of multiple identification markers was performed for authenticating Sanchi simultaneously from 15 different CPMs. Dimension-enhanced profiling by UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS in the negative high-definition MSE (HDMSE) mode and in-house library-driven peak annotation could characterize totally 328 ginsenosides (133 from PNR, 125 from PNL, and 161 from PNF). Multivariate statistical analysis of the PNR/PNL/PNF samples (45 batches) identified 27 potential markers. Five major markers (notoginsenoside R1, ginsenosides Rg1, -Rb1, -Rb2, and -Rb3) thereof were quantitatively assayed by a fully validated UHPLC-UV (detected at 203 nm) approach. The application of selective ion monitoring (SIM) of 12 differential saponins coupled with UHPLC separation could precisely identify Sanchi from 15 different CPMs (45 batches). Holistic difference in ginsenosides among three parts of P. notoginseng was unveiled, and the markers deduced may assist to identify the illicit substitution of leaf or flower as the root in the TCM compound formulae. Conclusively, the integration of untargeted metabolomics and quantitative analysis can provide reliable information enabling the precise authentication of TCM.