Abstract:

To identify prednisone acetate and prednisone of glucocorticoids chemical drugs added to traditional Chinese preparation of antirheumatic and analgesic by applying liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry and taking retention time, chemical structure and molecular weight as indicators. MethodsThe detection was performed on a C18 column. The mobile phase consisted of 0.01?mol/L ammonium formate (adjusting pH to 4.0 with formic acid)methanol(30:70), flow rate was 0.4?mL/min, column temperature was 30?℃, and detection wavelength was 270?nm. The electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion mode（ESI＋）. The scanning rang was 501000?m/z, ionization voltage was 5 kV, nebulizer pressure was 40psi, drying gas temperature was 350?℃, flow rate was 10?L/min, and ion source sparging voltage  was 15?V. ResultsThe compounds illegally added into the traditional Chinese medicine were identified according to the spectrum, chromatogramphic behavior and mass spectral data by comparison with those of reference substances. ConclusionThe method is selective, sensitive and can be used to detect the illegally added components in traditional Chinese preparation and to control the preparation quality.

Key words: Traditional Chinese Preparation, Glucocorticosteroid, Liquid chromatographymass spectrometry