Chemical Profiling of an Antipyretic Drug, Thai Herbal Harak Formula, by Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Objective: To isolate and identify chemical compounds in Harak, a Thai herbal formula widely used as an antipyretic drug in Thailand. Methods: Methanol extraction of the Harak formula and its five herbal components were separated by Ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This method has been developed for “untargeted” profiling of this formula and its components. An online database was used to identify chemical compounds by comparing its empirical molecular formula, isotope pattern, and fragmentation pattern. Results: Nineteen chemical constituents were found from positive and negative electrospray ionization (ESI) modes. These compounds included flavonoids, hesperitine, and iso-corydine, which are known to possess antioxidant and anticancer activity. Moreover, data from the principle component analysis (PCA) score plot of positive and negative ESI modes showed that the chemical constituents of Thai herbal Harak formula were similar to those found in Ficus racemosa Linn. and Capparis micracantha DC. Conclusion: Under this optimization method, nineteen chemical constituents including phenolic and flavonoids were characterized in both positive and negative ESI mode.

Keywords

• Chemical profiling
• Thai herbal Harak formula
• Thai traditional medicine
• time-of-flight mass spectrometry
• ultra high performance liquid chromatography
• (Siriraj Med J 2018;70: 159-168)