Simultaneous LC-MS quantification of 15 lignans in Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) baill. Fruit

For the first time a simple, rapid, and specific liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric (LC-MS) method for simultaneous quantification of 15 lignans from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. fruit has been developed and fully validated. Samples were ultrasonically extracted with methanol. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C-18 column with methanol-0.1% aqueous acetic acid 72:28 (v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min(-1); the run time was 40 min. The analytes were monitored by selected ion monitoring (SIM) with electrospray ionization (ESI). Fifteen regression equations revealed good linear relationships (r(2)> 0.99) between peak area and concentration. Within-batch and between-batch precision of the method for the 15 lignans was < 9.5% and accuracy was 93.1-107.5%. The validated method was successfully used to determine the 15 compounds in the fruits of Schisandra chinensis procured from different regions of China. The results indicated the method could be used for quality control of Schisandra chinensis fruit and might also useful for further studies of lignans.