title: Liquid Chromatography-diode Array Detector-electrospray Mass Spectrometry and Principal Components Analyses of Raw and Processed Moutan Cortex.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Raw Moutan Cortex (RMC), derived from the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa, and Processed Moutan Cortex (PMC) is obtained from RMC by undergoing a stir-frying process. Both of them are indicated for different pharmacodynamic action in traditional Chinese medicine, and they have been used in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish a method to study the RMC and PMC, revealing their different chemical composition by fingerprint, qualitative, and quantitative ways.
  
  
  METHODS
  High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and electrospray mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESIMS) were used for the analysis. Therefore, the analytes were separated on an Ultimate TM XB-C18 analytical column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5.0 μm) with a gradient elution program by a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1% (v/v) formic acid water solution. The flow rate, injection volume, detection wavelength, and column temperature were set at 1.0 mL/min, 10 μL, 254 nm, and 30°C, respectively. Besides, principal components analysis and the test of significance were applied in data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results clearly showed a significant difference among RMC and PMC, indicating the significant changes in their chemical compositions before and after the stir-frying process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HPLC-DAD-ESIMS coupled with chemometrics analysis could be used for comprehensive quality evaluation of raw and processed Moutan Cortex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experiment study the RMC and PMC by HPLC-DAD-ESIMS couple with chemometrics analysis. The results of their fingerprints, qualitative, and quantitative all clearly showed significant changes in their chemical compositions before and after stir-frying processed. Abbreviation used: HPLC-DAD-ESIMS: High-performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detector-Electrospray Mass Spectrometry, RMC: Raw moutan cortex, PMC: Processed moutan cortex, TCM: Traditional Chinese medicine, PCA: Principal components analysis, LOD: Limit of detection, LOQ: Limit of quantitation, RSD: Relative standard deviation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
authors.forename: Xian-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Devision of Traditional Chinese Medicines Standard, Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, Beijing 100061, China.
authors.forename: Jiang-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
authors.forename: Meng-Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Medical University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
authors.forename: Xing-Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Chun-Tao
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Che
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Torch Polytechnic, Zhongshan, 528436, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meng
keywords: Fingerprints; high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and electrospray mass spectrometry; principal components analyses; quantification; raw and processed Moutan Cortex