title: Identification of chemical markers in Cordyceps sinensis by HPLC-MS/MS.
abstract: Authentication and quality assessment of Cordyceps sinensis, a precious and pricey natural product that offers a variety of health benefits, is highly significant. To identify effective chemical markers, authentic C. sinensis was thoroughly screened by using HPLC-MS/MS. In addition to many previously reported ingredients, two glycosides, i.e., cyclo-Ala-Leu-rhamnose and Phe-o-glucose, were detected for the first time in this material. Six ingredients detected, including cordycepin, D-mannitol, Phe, Phe-o-glucose, cyclo-Gly-Pro, and cyclo-Ala-Leu-rhamnose, were selected as a collection of chemical markers. An HPLC-MS/MS method was developed to simultaneously quantify them with sensitivity and specificity. The method had limits of detection ranging from 0.008 μg mL(-1) for cordycepin to 0.75 μg mL(-1) for cyclo-Gly-Pro. Recovery was found between 96 and 103 % in all tests. To evaluate the effectiveness of the marker collection proposed, five authentic C. sinensis samples and five samples of its substitutes were analyzed. Cordycepin, D-mannitol, and Phe were found present in all samples. The contents ranged from 0.0076 to 0.029 % (w/w) for cordycepin, 0.33 to 18.9 % for mannitol, and 0.0013 to 0.642 % for Phe. Interestingly, the two glycosides, Phe-o-glucose and cyclo-Ala-Leu-rhamnose, were detected only in authentic C. sinensis samples. These results indicated that the proposed protocol based on HPLC-MS/MS quantification of the markers might have a great potential in authentication and quality assessment of C. sinensis. Graphical abstract Chemical markers of C. sinensis identified in this work.
authors: Wuhan University Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan, 430071, China. whyhlz@163.com.|Wuhan Yaogu Bio-tech Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430075, China. whyhlz@163.com.
authors: Hankun
authors: H
authors: Hu
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Jackson, MS, 39217, USA.|Hubei Provincial Institute for Food and Drug Control, Wuhan, 430064, China.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Xiao
authors: Wuhan University Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan, 430071, China.
authors: Baogen
authors: B
authors: Zheng
authors: Wuhan University Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan, 430071, China.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Wei
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Jackson, MS, 39217, USA.
authors: Alexis
authors: A
authors: Ellis
authors: Wuhan Yaogu Bio-tech Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430075, China. yiming.liu@jsums.edu.|Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Jackson, MS, 39217, USA. yiming.liu@jsums.edu.
authors: Yi-Ming
authors: YM
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry*; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000032:analysis; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000032:analysis; D005947:Glucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006027:Glycosides / Q000032:analysis; D008353:Mannitol / Q000032:analysis; D012210:Rhamnose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D004151:Dipeptides; D006027:Glycosides; D008353:Mannitol; C015248:glycylproline; C058120:cordycepin; D005947:Glucose; D012210:Rhamnose
keywords: Authentication; Chemical markers; Cordycepin; Cordyceps sinensis; Glycosides; HPLC-MS