LC-MS chromatographic fingerprinting as a tool for medicinal plant standardization (Hypericum perforatum L. as a case study)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15587/2519-8025.2026.362775

Keywords:

Hypericum perforatum, St. John's wort, LC-MS, chromatographic fingerprint, metabolite profiling, medicinal plant standardization, phenolic acids, flavonoid glycosides, chlorogenic acid, herbal medicine authentication

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate the applicability of LC-MS chromatographic fingerprinting as a tool for standardization and authenticity verification of medicinal plant material using Hypericum perforatum L. as a model object.

Materials and methods. 50% and 80% hydroethanol extracts of dried aerial parts of H. perforatum were prepared by ultrasonic extraction (30 min, sample weights 504 mg and 516 mg). Analysis was performed by LC-MS on an Agilent 1260 Infinity II / LC/MSD iQ system; Gemini NX-C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), gradient elution (0.1% formic acid\acetonitrile), flow rate 0.7 mL/min. Detection was carried out in ESI+ and ESI− modes over the m/z range 100–1000. Total ion current (TIC) chromatograms were recorded and compared by overlay profiling.

Results. 12 characteristic peaks were identified in both extracts: phenolic acids (chlorogenic, neochlorogenic, caffeic), flavonoid glycosides (rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin), flavan-3-ols (catechin, epicatechin), and quercetin aglycone. Identification was performed at MSI level 2 (tentative annotation). TIC profiles were qualitatively similar (phytoequivalence), with the 80% extract yielding higher signal intensities for key marker compounds.

Conclusions. LC-MS fingerprint analysis provides a reproducible chemical profile suitable as a reference standard for batch verification and detection of compositional deviations. The 80% hydroethanol extract is recommended as the optimal system for generating a reference fingerprint of H. Perforatum

Supporting Agency

  • Інститут молекулярної біології і генетики Національної академії наук України в рамках гранту Simons Foundation для українських установ № SFI-PD-Ukraine-00017453. Хроматографічний аналіз виконано на базі Науково-виробничого центру фітопрепаратів

Author Biography

Taras Maiula, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

PhD Student

Department of Biomedical Chemistry

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Published

2026-05-29

How to Cite

Maiula, T. (2026). LC-MS chromatographic fingerprinting as a tool for medicinal plant standardization (Hypericum perforatum L. as a case study). ScienceRise: Biological Science, (2 (46), 4–9. https://doi.org/10.15587/2519-8025.2026.362775

Issue

No. 2 (46) (2026)

Section

Biological Sciences

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Copyright (c) 2026 Taras Maiula

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