Abstract: In this study,ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS) technique was used to rapidly separate and identify saponin components in Panax notoginseng. Water saturated n-butyl alcohol was used as extraction solvent.Chromatographic separation was carried out on a BEH C₁₈ column with gradient elution of 0.05% formic acid in water (A) and 0.05% formic acid in acetonitrile (B).The Q-TOF MS analysis was applied in ESI negative mode.According to the experimental result,17 saponins were separated and tentatively identified by UPLC/Q-TOF MS based on reference literatures,MS/MS fragment ions information and elemental composition in Masslynx 4.1.Among these 17 compounds,including 8 ginsenosides and 9 notoginsenosides,gingerglycolipid B was detected in P.notoginseng. The developed UPLC-Q-TOF MS method was simple,rapid and reliable for the identification of saponin component in P.notoginseng.

Key words: Panax notoginseng, saponins, UPLC/Q-TOF MS