Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Screening Method for the Detection of Radical-Scavenging Natural Antioxidants from the Whole Scutellariae (Radix, Stem and Leaf).

A novel free radical reaction combined with high-performance LC-photodiode array-ESI-MS/MS screening method was developed for the detection and identification of natural antioxidants from whole Scutellariae. Six compounds and whole Scutellariae extracts were found to possess a potential antioxidant capacity, and their free radical-scavenging activities were investigated in detail. The six compounds were identified as baicalin, baicalein, scutellarin, scutellarein, wogonoside and chrystin-7-glucoronide.