Chromatographic fingerprint of Cnidium monnieri

To establish the method of HPLC-fingerprint analysis for the quality control of Cnidium monnieri L.Cuss., and identify its active constituents by HPLC-MS, 35 batches of samples were analyzed on a Shimadzu C₁₈ column with a gradient of acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous aceticacid at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min^-1 and detected at 245 nm and 322 nm. Furthermore, the typical samples were detected by HPLC-DAD-MS under negative ion mode. 35 batches of Cnidium monnieri L. Cuss. samples were classified into four types based on the results of similarity analysis. According to the comparison of the t_R, MS data and UV maximum absorbance (λ_max) values with the standards, 8, 7, 4 and 2 coumarins components were identified in four types of Cnidium monnieri L. Cuss. extracts, separately. The method is repeatable and reliable, and it is capable of effectively controlling the quality of Cnidium monnieriL.Cuss..