Abstract: To identify the saponins in wild Gynostemma pentaphyllum of Huangshan which provides theoretical basis for the development and utilization of wild Gynostemma pentaphyllum in Huangshan.Ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-fight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was selected for the study.The separation was performed on waters Acquity HSS T3 column (2.1 mm×100 mm,1.8 μm),with a mobile phase using water containing 0.1% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B) for gradient elution.Q-TOF-MS and electrospray ion (ESI) source were applied for the analysis under the positive mode.Firstly,4 saponins with the damanane type structure were selected for analysis.Then,the fragmentation regularity and the characteristic fragments of saponins with the damanane type structure were explored which applied to identify the saponins in wild Gynostemma Pentaphyllum of Huangshan.25 saponins were identified in wild Gynostemma pentaphyllum of Huangshan,including 6 saponins identified for the first time in Gynostemma pentaphyllum.

Key words: UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, Gynostemma pentaphyllum, saponins, fragmentation regularity