Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry and multivariate data analysis: A novel approach to rapid identification of analytical markers for quality control of traditional Chinese medicine preparation

[Display omitted] ► DART-MS combined with PCA was used to rapidly identify markers of herbal preparation. ► Salvianolic acids and saccharides were simultaneously determined with DART-MS. ► DART-MS spectra obtained from batches of Danshen injections were processed using PCA. ► Candidate markers of Danshen injection were recognized from the contribution plots. The paper presents a novel strategy to identify analytical markers of traditional Chinese medicine preparation (TCMP) rapidly via direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS). A commonly used TCMP, Danshen injection, was employed as a model. The optimal analysis conditions were achieved by measuring the contribution of various experimental parameters to the mass spectra. Salvianolic acids and saccharides were simultaneously determined within a single 1-min DART-MS run. Furthermore, spectra of Danshen injections supplied by five manufacturers were processed with principal component analysis (PCA). Obvious clustering was observed in the PCA score plot, and candidate markers were recognized from the contribution plots of PCA. The suitability of potential markers was then confirmed by contrasting with the results of traditional analysis methods. Using this strategy, fructose, glucose, sucrose, protocatechuic aldehyde and salvianolic acid A were rapidly identified as the markers of Danshen injections. The combination of DART-MS with PCA provides a reliable approach to the identification of analytical markers for quality control of TCMP.