Characterization of the Chemical Constituents in Shenyanshu Tablets by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

Shenyanshu tablets (SYST), a widely prescribed traditional Chinese patent medicine, which is clinically applied to treat chronic glomerulonephritis in China and other Asian countries. However, there is still no detailed report existing on its chemical composition at present, which hinders further investigation into its pharmacological activities and mechanism of action. To solve this difficult problem, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was established to separate and identify the chemical constituents of SYST. A total of 130 compounds were identified or characterized, among which 19 compounds were clearly confirmed by comparing their retention time and mass spectrometry data with those of reference standards. Based on the mass spectrometry data and relevant literature, the remaining compounds were preliminarily characterized. Results revealed that flavonoids, triterpenoid glycosides, organic acids, and alkaloids were the primary chemical components of SYST. The established analytical method has been proven to effectively characterize the chemical constituents of SYST and also provides important reference for clarifying the pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism of action of SYST.