The evaluation and implementation of Direct Analysis in Real Time quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry for characterization and quantification of geniposide in Re Du Ning Injections.

Rationale: The Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) ionization source coupled with a quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS/MS) system has the capability to desorb analytes directly from samples from complex Chinese herbal preparations without sample cleanup or chromatographic separation.

Methods: In this work, a method based on DART/Q-TOF MS/MS has been developed for rapid determination of geniposide present in 'Re Du Ning Injections', a Chinese herbal preparation. The method has been evaluated for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of geniposide in Re Du Ning Injections.

Results: Variables including polarity for ion detection, DART gas heater temperature, matrix effect and sample presentation speed were investigated. The quantitative method was validated with respect to linearity, sensitivity, repeatability, precision and accuracy by using both internal and external standards. A comparison of the results obtained using the DART-based method was made with those obtained using a conventional High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Diode-Array Detector (HPLC/DAD) by analyzing geniposide in four batches of Re Du Ning Injections.

Conclusions: The DART/Q-TOF MS/MS-based method provides a rapid, efficient and powerful method to analyze compounds from complex Traditional Chinese Medicines with limited sample preparation thus reducing time and complexity of quality control for those materials.