ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for simultaneous determination of 13 constituents including isovalerylshikonin, acetylshikonin, β, β-dimethylacrylshikonin, isobutyrylshikonin, β-acetoxy-isovaleryshikonin, β-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin, propio-nylshikonin, 1-methoxyacetylshikonin, shikonin, shikonofuran A, shikonofuran B, shikonofuran D, and shikonofuran E in Arnebia plants by HPLC-MS. METHODS: The determination was performed on a Waters Sun Fire C18 column (2.1 mm×150 mm, 3.5 μm) with mobile phase A consisting of water containing 0.1% formic acid and 10 mmol·L-1 ammonium formate and mobile phase B of acetonitrile under negative ionization MRM mode. The qualities of 22 batches of Arnebia plants samples obtained from medicinal materi-alsmarkets were investigated and evaluated after methodology validations. RESULTS: There were good linear relationships between the peak areas and predetermined content ranges of these compounds. The average recoveries varied from 87.3% to 107.6%. The contents of shikonins and shikonofurans of the 22 batches of Arnebia plants samples showed significant difference. CONCLUSION: The established method is feasible and simple for the quality control of Medicinal Arnebia plants and their related plants and preparations.