HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem MS and TLC analysis of flavones-C-glycosides and bibenzyl of Dendrobium hercoglossum.

Dendrobium hercoglossum Rchb. f. (D. hercoglossum), as one of the origins of medicinal Dendrobium, has been widely used as a health food and nutrient source promoting fluid production. Due to a lack of quality control, it is often counterfeited or mixed with other Dendrobium. In this study, a high-performance liquid chromatography characteristic chromatogram method is established for the quality evaluation of D. hercoglossum. Based on the high-performance liquid chromatography characteristic chromatogram, D. hercoglossum is divided into two classes, each with different flavone peaks. These flavone peaks were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization multistage tandem mass spectrometry. Among them, the acylated (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl, p-coumaroyl, feruloyl, or sinapoyl) flavones-C-glycosides are first found in D. hercoglossum in this study. In addition, one unique band was found in D. hercoglossum by thin-layer chromatography, which can be used to distinguish it from other Dendrobium species as a characteristic marker of this plant. Combining the high-performance liquid chromatography characteristic chromatogram and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization multistage tandem mass spectrometry, the unique band was identified as 4,5-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxybibenzyl. These analysis methods can be applied for the quality control and identification of D. hercoglossum as well as providing reference for the identification of similar constituents in other Dendrobium species.