Quantitative determination of multi markers in five varieties of Withania somnifera using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with hybrid triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer combined with multivariate analysis: Application to pharmaceutical dosage forms

[Display omitted] •UHPLC–ESI-MS/MS method was developed for quantification of six compounds.•Withanolides was detected as the major constituents in Withania somnifera 5 varieties.•Application of developed method in 26 polyherbal marketed formulations.•HCA and PCA were performed to compare and discriminate the samples.•The proposed method would serve as a useful tool in the quality control of Withania somnifera. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of six major bioactive compounds in five varieties of Withania somnifera in various plant parts (leaf, stem and root). The analysis was accomplished on Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column with linear gradient elution of water/formic acid (0.1%) and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.3mLmin−1. The proposed method was validated with acceptable linearity (r2, 0.9989–0.9998), precision (RSD, 0.16–2.01%), stability (RSD, 1.04–1.62%) and recovery (RSD ≤2.45%), under optimum conditions. The method was also successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of six marker compounds in twenty-six marketed formulations. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis were applied to discriminate these twenty-six batches based on characteristics of the bioactive compounds. The results indicated that this method is advance, rapid, sensitive and suitable to reveal the quality of Withania somnifera and also capable of performing quality evaluation of polyherbal formulations having similar markers/raw herbs.