Abstract: To establish a UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of scopolin,1,3-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid,luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside,3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid,3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid in Inula cappa. Using Waters BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 mm×100 mm,1.7 μm) with a gradient solvent system of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid in water as mobile phases.Multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) mode was used as detection mode with electro-spray ionization (ESI) source.Good linearities were achieved in the ranges of 0.058-42.000, 0.178-129.630, 0.087-63.400, 0.288-69.930, 0.172~125.500 and 0.184-134.130 μg/mL for the 6 compounds,respectively.The average recoveries were 97.84%-105.67% (RSD<1%).Precision,repeatability and stability were good.The developed method was simple,rapid and effective for the determination of the components in I.cappa. It provided a new method for the quality control of I.cappa.

Key words: Inula cappa, UPLC-MS/MS;scopolin, 1,3-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid;luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside;3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid;3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid;content determination