LC-HR-MS Based Approach to Identify Triterpenes in Astragalus Species

Astragalus genus has been recorded as yielding a wide range of flavonoids, triterpenes, triterpene saponins, and polysaccharides. Cycloartane- and oleanane-type triterpenes are widely distributed in this genus with intriguing biological effects. Combining liquid chromatography (LC) with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR MS) has provided a valuable tool in the analysis of these triterpenes in plants. In this chapter, we summarized the main triterpenes studied by liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS) associated with mass analysers, molecular weight information and mass fragmentation, presenting an interesting overview of increasing interest for cycloartane- and oleanane-type triterpenes.Astragalus genus has been recorded as yielding a wide range of flavonoids, triterpenes, triterpene saponins, and polysaccharides. Cycloartane- and oleanane-type triterpenes are widely distributed in this genus with intriguing biological effects. Combining liquid chromatography (LC) with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR MS) has provided a valuable tool in the analysis of these triterpenes in plants. In this chapter, we summarized the main triterpenes studied by liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS) associated with mass analysers, molecular weight information and mass fragmentation, presenting an interesting overview of increasing interest for cycloartane- and oleanane-type triterpenes. nbsp;